Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 11390000

Butte C near Chico, CA

Butte C near Chico, CA is USGS streamgage 11390000 in California, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 18020158. It sits on the Butte C, alongside 3 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 147 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1930. Typical flow runs near 152.6 cfs in July and 537.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
California
Drainage area
147 sq mi
Gauge elevation
321 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
18020158
Coordinates
39.726, -121.70886
USGS site number
11390000
Records begin
1930-10-01 (96 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Butte C near Chico, CA. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
100 106 110
97 105 110
94 104 110
92.7 103 111
91.1 102 112
90.1 102 112
88.9 101 113
87.6 101 113
87.4 101 114
86.8 101 115
85.8 101 115
85.7 102 118
84.9 101 118
85.2 101 118

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 96 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 126.8 328.3 1,547.3
February 183.8 473.3 1,759.3
March 273.1 557.1 1,498.4
April 267.3 537.3 1,213.7
May 188.5 401.6 876.5
June 138.9 241.7 473.1
July 100.6 152.6 238.8
August 88.7 127.6 183.3
September 70.9 115.5 161.3
October 75 115.8 181.6
November 91.1 140.5 357.5
December 107.2 203.9 1,075.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Butte C near Chico, CA normally run highest?
March, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 557.1 cfs, against 115.5 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Butte C near Chico, CA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 328.3 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 126.8 and 1,547.3 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Butte C near Chico, CA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 11390000 begin in 1930, about 96 years, covering roughly 9,131 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Butte C near Chico, CA?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Butte C near Chico, CA?
The gauge sits at 39.726, -121.70886, in California, in hydrologic subbasin 18020158, at an elevation of about 321 feet, draining roughly 147 square miles.
Can I use Butte C near Chico, CA data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Butte C

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Butte C in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin