Jefferson River near Three Forks, MT

Southwest Montana (Beaverhead & Big Hole) · USGS gauge 06036650 · Updated Oct 25, 11:23 AM PDT · USGS data, provisional

All 2 Jefferson River gauges in Montana

Fishable/Floatable1,670 cfs▲ rising (+16% in 24 h)

Reading time: Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT · Provisional data

Flow is in a typical range for the date. Rivers are generally easiest to fish and float when they are near their normal flow, but this status says nothing about water clarity, hatches, hazards such as wood in the river, or dam releases.

Vs. normal for this date
67th percentile
Typical range (25th–75th)
1,130–1,860 cfs
Median for this date
1,420 cfs
7-day low / high
1,120 / 1,680 cfs

Water temperature & gage height

Water temperature
5.5 °C (42 °F) as of Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT · USGS 00010 · Provisional
Gage height (stage)
3.84 ft as of Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT · USGS 00065 · Provisional

Context only: these readings do not affect the status above, which is based on flow (cfs) alone. Gage height is the water level above this gauge's own reference point, not water depth, and can't be compared between gauges. Temperature converted from °C to °F by Flowcast. Source: USGS, provisional data.

Plain-language explanation

Jefferson River near Three Forks is flowing at 1,670 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT. That is in the normal range for this time of year: higher than about 67% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 48 years of record (1978–2026).

The middle half of those historical flows runs from 1,130 to 1,860 cfs, with a median of 1,420 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 988 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 2,198 cfs.

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been rising (+16.0%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 1,120 to 1,680 cfs.

Why this status: Flow is within the range this gauge normally sees at this time of year (or the deviation is too small in absolute terms to matter).

Quick answers

Is the Jefferson River near Three Forks fishable today?

Flowcast's status for the Jefferson River near Three Forks is “Fishable/Floatable”: flow is 1,670 cfs, within the range this gauge normally sees at this time of year, at the 67th percentile for this date (as of Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT). That describes flow only. It says nothing about water clarity, temperature, fish activity, access or fishing regulations.

What is the current flow of the Jefferson River near Three Forks?

1,670 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 06036650 as of Oct 25, 11:00 AM PDT, provisional data.

Is the Jefferson River near Three Forks too high or too low right now?

Neither: it is inside the typical range for the date (1,130 to 1,860 cfs).

Is the Jefferson River near Three Forks rising or falling?

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been rising (+16.0%).

What is a normal flow for the Jefferson River near Three Forks in October?

For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 1,420 cfs and the middle half of days runs 1,130 to 1,860 cfs, over 48 years of USGS record.

7-day trend

typical range for this date (25th-75th pct)1,0361,2181,4001,5821,764Mon 10/19Tue 10/20Wed 10/21Thu 10/22Fri 10/23Sat 10/24Sun 10/25

Hourly flow in cfs, Pacific time. The shaded band is the typical range (25th–75th percentile) for this date, shown when it falls within the chart.

Day (Pacific)Mean cfsPercentileStatus that day
Mon Oct 191,19838thFishable/Floatable
Tue Oct 201,17635thFishable/Floatable
Wed Oct 211,15831stFishable/Floatable
Thu Oct 221,13528thFishable/Floatable
Fri Oct 231,20735thFishable/Floatable
Sat Oct 241,47058thFishable/Floatable
Sun Oct 25 (so far)1,62664thFishable/Floatable

Seasonal context

1002005001,0002,0005,00010,000JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Shaded band: 10th–90th percentile of daily flows through the year; dashed line: median. Log scale. Dot: today's flow. Based on 48 years of USGS daily data (1978–2026).

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Official resources

Links go to the agencies' own websites and were checked as working. Flowcast does not summarize fishing or boating rules: regulations and closures change, and the agency pages are the authority.

About this gauge

USGS site
USGS-06036650
USGS name
Jefferson River Near Three Forks Mt
Drainage area
9,558 sq mi
Location
45.8971, -111.5957
Record in this analysis
1978–2026
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Readings are provisional and subject to revision. Flowcast statuses are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history, not safety ratings or fishing reports. Check local conditions, weather, regulations and closures before you go. Rivers can change quickly.

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Southwest Montana: Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby & Jefferson

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