2 USGS Streamgages · Columbia River system
Bruneau River flows and levels
Bruneau River is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in Nevada and Idaho, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 145 miles (234 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Columbia River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 382 square miles at Bruneau River at Rowland, NV up to 2,686 at Bruneau River near Hot Spring, ID. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook for every one of them.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruneau River at Rowland, NV | NV | 382 | — | 248.6 | 32.4 | 14-day |
| Bruneau River near Hot Spring, ID | ID | 2,686 | — | 658.4 | 204.2 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at Bruneau River near Hot Spring, ID
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 117 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 | 71.9 | 116.9 | 232.6 | |
| February | 95.6 | 144.2 | 353.2 | |
| March | 132.6 | 260.9 | 765.6 | |
| April | 247.6 | 658.4 | 1,503.3 | |
| May | 422.8 | 1,108.8 | 2,159.7 | |
| June | 287.8 | 789.5 | 1,691.7 | |
| July | 70.8 | 204.2 | 498.5 | |
| August | 38.5 | 80.8 | 144 | |
| September | 38.1 | 67 | 115.3 | |
| October | 48.9 | 84.7 | 137.5 | |
| November | 64.3 | 106.3 | 164.3 | |
| December | 61.8 | 105.2 | 186.6 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Bruneau River run highest?
- May, on the long-term record at Bruneau River near Hot Spring, ID — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 1,108.8 cfs that month, against 67 cfs in September, 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 Bruneau River?
- Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the Bruneau River, across Nevada and Idaho. 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.
- Is there a flow forecast for the Bruneau River?
- Yes, at 2 of the 2 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on each gauge's live screen.
- What river system is the Bruneau River part of?
- The Bruneau River drains into the Columbia 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 Bruneau River 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 Columbia River system
- Snake River 31 gauges
- Willamette River 11 gauges
- Mckenzie River 9 gauges
- Big Wood River 8 gauges
- Bull Run River 6 gauges
- Cowlitz River 6 gauges
- Deschutes River 6 gauges
- Methow River 6 gauges