Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06038800

Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT

Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT is USGS streamgage 06038800 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10020007. It sits on the Madison River, alongside 7 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 1,093 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1959. Typical flow runs near 1,239.7 cfs in July and 1,009.5 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, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
1,093 sq mi
Gauge elevation
5,872 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10020007
Coordinates
44.88866, -111.58089
USGS site number
06038800
Records begin
1959-09-01 (67 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, 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
839 860 874
829 856 872
823 854 873
821 855 877
816 854 881
810 854 887
803 855 893
791 852 902
784 850 909
778 850 914
774 849 921
773 849 928
768 848 929
763 847 928

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 67 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 783.5 969.9 1,274.5
February 762.5 953.7 1,283.8
March 699.5 975.1 1,297.7
April 612.7 1,009.5 1,454.3
May 663.1 1,319.7 2,243.2
June 718.3 1,559 3,196
July 929.6 1,239.7 1,902.6
August 884.3 1,102.9 1,338.7
September 835.7 1,015.4 1,463.3
October 779 965.4 1,990.6
November 758.1 960.3 1,997
December 766.7 970.7 1,325.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,559 cfs, against 953.7 cfs in February, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 969.9 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 783.5 and 1,274.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06038800 begin in 1959, about 67 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 Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, 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 Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, MT?
The gauge sits at 44.88866, -111.58089, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 10020007, at an elevation of about 5,872 feet, draining roughly 1,093 square miles.
Can I use Madison River at Kirby Ranch near Cameron, 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 Madison River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin