4 USGS Streamgages · Owens River system
Bishop C flows and levels
Bishop C is gauged at 4 USGS streamgages in California, each tracked by Rivermatics. It feeds the North Fork Bishop Creek. It drains into the Owens River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 65 square miles at Bishop C below Intake No 3 Diversion Dam near Bishop, CA up to 104 at Bishop C Ab Pp No 6 near Bishop, CA. The gauged reach falls about 1,850 feet, from 7,130 feet down to 5,280.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop C below Intake No 3 Diversion Dam near Bishop, CA | CA | 65 | 7,130 | 14.7 | 14.1 | — |
| Bishop C below Intake No 4 Diversion Dam near Bishop, CA | CA | 73 | 6,340 | 6.2 | 6.2 | — |
| Bishop C below Intake No 5 Diversion Dam near Bishop, CA | CA | 100 | 5,280 | 20 | 19.8 | — |
| Bishop C Ab Pp No 6 near Bishop, CA | CA | 104 | — | 1.3 | 14.1 | — |
Typical flow by month at Bishop C Ab Pp No 6 near Bishop, CA
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 37 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 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 51.9 | |
| February | 0.3 | 1.1 | 54.4 | |
| March | 0.3 | 1.3 | 62.3 | |
| April | 0.2 | 1.3 | 76.9 | |
| May | 0.2 | 1.8 | 109 | |
| June | 0.3 | 11.9 | 189.5 | |
| July | 0.3 | 14.1 | 237.7 | |
| August | 0.2 | 1.7 | 107.5 | |
| September | 0.2 | 1.2 | 34.8 | |
| October | 0.2 | 1.1 | 54.9 | |
| November | 0.3 | 1.7 | 66.9 | |
| December | 0.3 | 1.3 | 60.1 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Bishop C run highest?
- July, on the long-term record at Bishop C Ab Pp No 6 near Bishop, CA — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 14.1 cfs that month, against 1.1 cfs in January, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Bishop C?
- Rivermatics tracks 4 USGS streamgages on the Bishop C, across California. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- What river system is the Bishop C part of?
- The Bishop C drains into the Owens River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Bishop C 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 rivers in the Owens River system
- Mf Bishop C 2 gauges