USGS Streamgage 06278300
Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY
Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY is USGS streamgage 06278300 in Wyoming, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10080010. It drains a watershed of about 23 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1956. Typical flow runs near 33.8 cfs in July and 3.5 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July.
Gauge details
- State
- Wyoming
- Drainage area
- 23 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 9,084 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10080010
- Coordinates
- 44.50806, -107.40306
- USGS site number
- 06278300
- Records begin
- 1956-10-01 (70 years)
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.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.1 | |
| February | 1.5 | 2.2 | 3.3 | |
| March | 1.4 | 2.2 | 3.2 | |
| April | 1.8 | 3.5 | 12.1 | |
| May | 20 | 67.2 | 240.2 | |
| June | 55.3 | 149.2 | 412.8 | |
| July | 12.8 | 33.8 | 88.3 | |
| August | 4.7 | 9.7 | 20.2 | |
| September | 3.8 | 7.1 | 16.1 | |
| October | 3.9 | 7.5 | 14.7 | |
| November | 3.5 | 5.4 | 9.1 | |
| December | 2.5 | 3.6 | 5.8 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY normally run highest?
- June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 149.2 cfs, against 2.2 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 Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 2.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 1.8 and 4.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06278300 begin in 1956, about 70 years, covering roughly 7,799 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY?
- The gauge sits at 44.50806, -107.40306, in Wyoming, in hydrologic subbasin 10080010, at an elevation of about 9,084 feet, draining roughly 23 square miles.
- Can I use Shell Creek above Shell Reservoir, WY 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.