Frequently asked questions
What does “Fishable/Floatable” mean?
It means the gauge's current flow is within the range that gauge normally sees at this time of year (roughly the 10th to 75th percentile of historical daily flows for the date, with extra checks). It is a flow comparison, not a fishing report or a safety rating.
Where does the data come from?
From U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauges, via the USGS Water Data API. Current flow is the latest reported discharge; history is the gauge's own record of daily mean discharge. Flowcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by USGS.
How often is the site updated?
The pipeline refreshes from USGS about once an hour. USGS gauges themselves typically report every 15 to 60 minutes, and some report late, which is flagged on the river page.
Why does a river show “Too low” when people are still fishing it?
“Too low” means flow is far below that gauge's normal for the date. It does not mean the river cannot be fished or floated. Different methods and craft tolerate different flows, and Flowcast does not have sourced craft-specific thresholds.
Are these statuses safe to rely on for boating or wading?
No. The statuses are automated comparisons and are not safety ratings. Hazards, weather, dam releases and changed channels are not captured. Check local conditions and use your own judgment.
What is cfs?
Cubic feet per second: the volume of water passing a gauge each second. Because rivers differ in size, Flowcast compares each gauge with its own history instead of using one scale.
What does “provisional” data mean?
USGS real-time values have not yet been reviewed and may be revised later. Flowcast shows them as reported and labels them provisional.
Why do some rivers say “Regulated flow”?
Upstream dams or diversions influence flow at that gauge, so its normal range reflects managed flows. This is a hand-maintained flag; see the methodology page.
Does Flowcast cover my river?
Flowcast currently covers 129 USGS gauges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Coverage is expanding. Only plain stream gauges with enough history and a current reading are included; tidal gauges and gauges with bad data are excluded.
Do advertisers or affiliates influence the statuses?
No. Statuses are computed from data only. Any sponsor, featured listing or affiliate link is labelled next to it. See the advertising and affiliate disclosure page.
Does Flowcast track me?
Flowcast sets no cookies and runs no advertising trackers. See the privacy policy for exactly what is collected.
I found a mistake. How do I report it?
See the contact page for the current way to reach us. For gauge data problems you can also look at the gauge's own USGS page, linked from every river page.
More: how to read a status · methodology and data sources · contact.