USGS Streamgage 11251000
San Joaquin River below Friant, CA
San Joaquin River below Friant, CA is USGS streamgage 11251000 in California, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 18040001. It drains a watershed of about 1,676 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1907. Typical flow runs near 239.2 cfs in July and 325.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- California
- Drainage area
- 1,676 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 297 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 18040001
- Coordinates
- 36.98439, -119.72431
- USGS site number
- 11251000
- Records begin
- 1907-10-01 (119 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 86 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37.8 | 109.4 | 2,386.8 | |
| February | 44.2 | 128.9 | 3,382.8 | |
| March | 52.6 | 165.5 | 4,124.5 | |
| April | 79.1 | 325.3 | 6,319 | |
| May | 103.6 | 301.5 | 6,881 | |
| June | 128.1 | 298.3 | 6,019.7 | |
| July | 144.2 | 239.2 | 3,082.3 | |
| August | 121.6 | 222.9 | 1,787.4 | |
| September | 93.4 | 193.2 | 1,423.7 | |
| October | 72.8 | 164 | 997.8 | |
| November | 54.6 | 125.1 | 618.6 | |
| December | 37.8 | 106.1 | 818.6 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does San Joaquin River below Friant, CA normally run highest?
- April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 325.3 cfs, against 106.1 cfs in December, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for San Joaquin River below Friant, CA?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 109.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 37.8 and 2,386.8 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has San Joaquin River below Friant, CA been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 11251000 begin in 1907, about 119 years, covering roughly 9,126 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is San Joaquin River below Friant, CA?
- The gauge sits at 36.98439, -119.72431, in California, in hydrologic subbasin 18040001, at an elevation of about 297 feet, draining roughly 1,676 square miles.
- Can I use San Joaquin River below Friant, 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.
Other gauges in this subbasin
- San Joaquin River below Hwy 41 near Pinedale, CA
- San Joaquin River A Skaggs Br near Ripperdan, CA
- San Joaquin River A Gravelly Ford Cn near Kerman, CA
- San Joaquin River below Chowchilla Cn Intake near Mendota
- San Joaquin River near Mendota, CA
- San Joaquin River near Stevinson, CA
- Salt Slough A Hwy 165 near Stevinson, CA
- San Joaquin River A Fremont Ford Bridge, CA