Montana rivers too low right now
2 of 38 Montana gauges are Too low right now: flow is far below that gauge's own normal for the date.
Updated Oct 28, 9:55 AM PDT · USGS data, provisional
| River | Status | Flow now | Typical for date (median) | Now as % of median | Vs. normal | 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River below Holter Dam, near Wolf Creek, MT | Too low | 2,860 cfs | 4,245 cfs | 67% | 2nd pct. | ● steady |
| Madison River near West Yellowstone, MT | Too low | 322 cfs | 413 cfs | 78% | 6th pct. | ● steady |
Lowest of the rest
The 5 Montana gauges not labelled Too low with the lowest flow for the date (seasonal percentile).
| River | Status | Flow now | Typical for date (median) | Now as % of median | Vs. normal | 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison River near Cameron, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 926 cfs | 1,180 cfs | 78% | 12th pct. | ● steady |
| Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 233 cfs | 417 cfs | 56% | 13th pct. | ● steady |
| Beaverhead River at Dillon, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 126 cfs | 177 cfs | 71% | 13th pct. | ● steady |
| Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 44.6 cfs | 67.0 cfs | 67% | 18th pct. | ● steady |
| Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam, near St. Xavier, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 1,800 cfs | 2,770 cfs | 65% | 19th pct. | ● steady |
What “Too low” means here
Flow is far below normal for the date. Expect shallow riffles and slower water; some stretches may be hard to float and fish can be stressed by low flows. Check local reports for the specific stretch. It is a comparison with each gauge's own history for this time of year (seasonal percentile), not a minimum flow for any boat or fishing method. Some rivers are regulated by dams or diversions, so low flow can reflect management rather than weather.
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