USGS Personnel in Little White River

This photograph was taken at Little White River near Rosebud, SD (USGS streamgage 06449500) when the streamflow was 139 cubic feet per second. During the winter, ice conditions create challenges for field staff in the collection of streamflow measurements.  Safety is of highest importance.  If the stream is fully iced over, then holes are drilled across the stream and the flow determined. However, at times a portion of the stream is open, creating a situation of a traditional streamflow measurement (wading in this case) coupled with drilling holes in the ice to determine the flow under the ice-covered portion. At times the ice is unstable and field measurements are not obtained until safe conditions are present.