Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12323800

Clark Fork near Galen, MT

Clark Fork near Galen, MT is USGS streamgage 12323800 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 656 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1988. Typical flow runs near 117.2 cfs in July and 142.4 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
656 sq mi
Gauge elevation
4,758 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17010201
Coordinates
46.20824, -112.76735
USGS site number
12323800
Records begin
1988-07-01 (38 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Clark Fork near Galen, 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
70.7 74.4 78.5
66.3 72.4 78.9
63.2 70.3 77.8
60.7 68.3 76.5
59.4 67.4 76.8
58.6 67.2 77.8
57.9 67.6 80
56.8 67.1 80.7
55 65.4 78.7
53.3 63.8 76.9
51.8 62.5 75.4
51.1 62.1 75.6
50 61.1 74.6
49 60.4 74.2

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 38 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 50.9 86.2 137.1
February 56.7 95.9 138.6
March 74.4 111 173.6
April 82.6 142.4 235
May 98 264.6 537.8
June 127.1 339.5 793.3
July 46.2 117.2 357.3
August 21.8 66.5 170.9
September 34 69.9 144.8
October 53.2 94.3 163.4
November 61.7 101.9 163.2
December 52.6 91.5 138.9

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Clark Fork near Galen, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 339.5 cfs, against 66.5 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 near Galen, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 86.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 50.9 and 137.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Clark Fork near Galen, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12323800 begin in 1988, about 38 years, covering roughly 9,199 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 near Galen, 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 near Galen, MT?
The gauge sits at 46.20824, -112.76735, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 17010201, at an elevation of about 4,758 feet, draining roughly 656 square miles.
Can I use Clark Fork near Galen, 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