Rivermatics

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 sits on the San Joaquin River, alongside 10 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. 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. 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
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)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for San Joaquin River below Friant, CA. 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
393 402 410
388 403 413
383 403 416
372 402 418
360 401 421
348 399 422
339 397 424
335 396 426
328 394 427
313 391 429
285 386 433
299 388 432
285 383 429
275 380 429

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 86 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 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 9,131 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for San Joaquin River below Friant, CA?
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 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.

Upstream and downstream on the San Joaquin River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin