Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12389000

Clark Fork near Plains, MT

Clark Fork near Plains, MT is USGS streamgage 12389000 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17010213. It sits on the Clark Fork, alongside 12 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 19,964 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1910. Typical flow runs near 22,787.1 cfs in July and 17,753.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
19,964 sq mi
Gauge elevation
2,456 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17010213
Coordinates
47.4292, -114.85653
USGS site number
12389000
Records begin
1910-10-01 (116 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Clark Fork near Plains, 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
9,086 9,727 10,402
8,854 9,671 10,672
8,738 9,711 11,017
8,632 9,675 11,127
8,564 9,700 11,276
8,428 9,617 11,241
8,280 9,518 11,180
8,153 9,424 11,156
8,052 9,347 11,143
7,950 9,246 11,059
7,923 9,153 10,972
7,810 9,066 10,875
7,802 9,017 10,831
7,769 8,969 10,801

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 116 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 6,033.9 12,180.6 17,754.8
February 5,995.2 11,444.8 18,451.7
March 6,366.1 11,080.6 18,574.2
April 9,455 17,753.3 32,396.7
May 21,916.1 41,148.4 69,532.3
June 24,193.3 49,980 86,023.3
July 11,858.7 22,787.1 40,838.7
August 6,532.9 10,110 15,774.2
September 5,904 8,913.7 13,783.3
October 6,360.6 9,874.5 15,209.7
November 6,584 11,010 16,620
December 6,354.5 12,151.6 17,612.9

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Clark Fork near Plains, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 49,980 cfs, against 8,913.7 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 Clark Fork near Plains, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 12,180.6 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 6,033.9 and 17,754.8 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Clark Fork near Plains, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12389000 begin in 1910, about 116 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 near Plains, 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. 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 Plains, MT?
The gauge sits at 47.4292, -114.85653, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 17010213, at an elevation of about 2,456 feet, draining roughly 19,964 square miles.
Can I use Clark Fork near Plains, 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