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Souris River Basin Active

By Dakota Water Science Center April 5, 2019

Information and products on the Souris River Basin.

The Souris River (also known as the Mouse River in the United States) originates in the Yellow Grass Marshes north of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, and flows southeast, crossing the northern boundary of North Dakota west of Sherwood, North Dakota. The Souris River then forms a loop and flows back north, entering Manitoba, Canada near Westhope, N. Dak., eventually flowing into the Assiniboine River near Brandon, Manitoba.

 

Click here to access the clickable gaging station map.

Souris River Basin Snip
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Stochastic model for simulating Souris River Basin regulated streamflow upstream from Minot, North Dakota

The Souris River Basin is a 24,000 square-mile basin in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, and the State of North Dakota in the United States. Above-average snowpack during the winter of 2010–11, along with record-setting rains in May and June of 2011, led to record flooding that caused extensive damage to Minot, North Dakota, and numerous smaller communities in Saskatchewan, Ma
Authors
Kelsey A. Kolars, Aldo V. Vecchia, Joel M. Galloway
By
Dakota Water Science Center

2011 Souris River flood—Will it happen again?

The Souris River Basin is a 61,000 square kilometer basin in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the state of North Dakota. Record setting rains in May and June of 2011 led to record flooding with peak annual streamflow values (762 cubic meters per second [m3/s]) more than twice that of any previously recorded peak streamflow and more than five times the estimated 100 year postregulatio
Authors
Rochelle A. Nustad, Kelsey A. Kolars, Aldo V. Vecchia, Karen R. Ryberg
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

History of U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging on the Souris River in and near Minot, North Dakota, 1903–2016

The U.S. Geological Survey began collecting streamflow data, in cooperation with the North Dakota State Water Commission, on the Souris River in and near Minot, North Dakota, in April 1903. The gage was started up to better understand the water resources available in North Dakota. Currently (2016), water availability is still important as well as the flood monitoring and forecasting that has becom
Authors
Kevin K. Baker, Steven M. Robinson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Tree-ring-based estimates of long-term seasonal precipitation in the Souris River Region of Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Manitoba

Historically unprecedented flooding occurred in the Souris River Basin of Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Manitoba in 2011, during a longer term period of wet conditions in the basin. In order to develop a model of future flows, there is a need to evaluate effects of past multidecadal climate variability and/or possible climate change on precipitation. In this study, tree-ring chronologies and hist
Authors
Karen R. Ryberg, Aldo V. Vecchia, F. Adnan Akyüz, Wei Lin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Stochastic model for simulating Souris River Basin precipitation, evapotranspiration, and natural streamflow

The Souris River Basin is a 61,000-square-kilometer basin in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the State of North Dakota. In May and June of 2011, record-setting rains were seen in the headwater areas of the basin. Emergency spillways of major reservoirs were discharging at full or nearly full capacity, and extensive flooding was seen in numerous downstream communities. To determine t
Authors
Kelsey A. Kolars, Aldo V. Vecchia, Karen R. Ryberg
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

City of Minot, North Dakota

International Joint Commission (IJC)

North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality

North Dakota State Water Commission

State Fish and Wildlife Agencies

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service