Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12324200

Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT

Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT is USGS streamgage 12324200 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17010201. It sits on the Clark Fork, alongside 12 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 1,001 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1977. Typical flow runs near 150.4 cfs in July and 274 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
Montana
Drainage area
1,001 sq mi
Gauge elevation
4,516 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17010201
Coordinates
46.39765, -112.74254
USGS site number
12324200
Records begin
1977-11-10 (49 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT. 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
124 130 136
116 125 134
111 121 133
106 118 131
104 117 134
103 118 139
102 119 142
99.9 118 145
98.5 118 147
98.1 120 156
96.6 118 154
95 117 152
94.1 117 152
94.1 119 166

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 48 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 141.7 211.6 303.6
February 151.3 219.7 310.6
March 180.9 244.5 355.9
April 178.9 274 397.5
May 134.5 349.5 755.2
June 139.1 398.4 1,155.5
July 54.8 150.4 541.3
August 36.5 88 215.3
September 78.4 144.5 275.6
October 136.7 216.9 348.5
November 166.5 236 344.9
December 146.9 214.5 306.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 398.4 cfs, against 88 cfs in August, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 211.6 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 141.7 and 303.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12324200 begin in 1977, about 49 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT?
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 Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT?
The gauge sits at 46.39765, -112.74254, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 17010201, at an elevation of about 4,516 feet, draining roughly 1,001 square miles.
Can I use Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT 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 Clark Fork

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

Other gauges in this subbasin