13 USGS Streamgages
Clark Fork flows and levels
Clark Fork is gauged at 13 USGS streamgages in Montana, each tracked by Rivermatics. It feeds the Columbia River. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 656 square miles at Clark Fork near Galen, MT up to 21,709 at Clark Fork below Noxon Rapids Dam near Noxon, MT. The gauged reach falls about 2,496 feet, from 4,758 feet down to 2,262. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Fork near Galen, MT | MT | 656 | 4,758 | 142.4 | 117.2 | 14-day + temp |
| Clark Fork at Deer Lodge, MT | MT | 1,001 | 4,516 | 274 | 150.4 | 14-day + temp |
| Clark Fork ab Little Blackfoot River near Garrison, MT | MT | 1,130 | 4,355 | 309.6 | 219.2 | 14-day + temp |
| Clark Fork at Goldcreek, MT | MT | 1,774 | 4,180 | 559.9 | 351.4 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork near Drummond, MT | MT | 2,516 | 3,794 | 763.4 | 534.8 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork at Turah Bridge near Bonner, MT | MT | 3,657 | 3,321 | 1,435.3 | 1,102.5 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork above Missoula, MT | MT | 6,021 | 3,204 | 3,244 | 2,782.9 | 14-day + temp |
| Clark Fork below Missoula, MT | MT | 9,017 | 3,095 | 5,651 | 5,080 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork at Superior, MT | MT | 10,210 | 2,673 | — | — | — |
| Clark Fork near Paradise, MT | MT | 10,709 | 2,559 | — | — | — |
| Clark Fork at St. Regis, MT | MT | 10,728 | 2,611 | 8,135 | 6,738.1 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork near Plains, MT | MT | 19,964 | 2,456 | 17,753.3 | 22,787.1 | 14-day |
| Clark Fork below Noxon Rapids Dam near Noxon, MT | MT | 21,709 | 2,262 | 21,256.7 | 23,080.6 | — |
Typical flow by month at Clark Fork below Noxon Rapids Dam near Noxon, MT
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 55 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 | 7,699 | 13,996.8 | 19,474.2 | |
| February | 7,094.8 | 14,124.1 | 22,265.5 | |
| March | 8,026.1 | 14,838.7 | 23,490.3 | |
| April | 10,539.3 | 21,256.7 | 37,303.3 | |
| May | 20,519.4 | 38,516.1 | 68,145.2 | |
| June | 21,940 | 48,013.3 | 85,453.3 | |
| July | 10,897.1 | 23,080.6 | 36,716.1 | |
| August | 5,417.7 | 10,516.8 | 16,171 | |
| September | 5,098 | 9,743.7 | 15,346.7 | |
| October | 6,173.9 | 11,377.4 | 16,354.8 | |
| November | 7,276.7 | 12,740 | 18,266.7 | |
| December | 8,153.5 | 13,622.6 | 19,348.4 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Clark Fork run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Clark Fork below Noxon Rapids Dam near Noxon, MT — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 48,013.3 cfs that month, against 9,743.7 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 Clark Fork?
- Rivermatics tracks 13 USGS streamgages on the Clark Fork, across Montana. 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 Clark Fork?
- Yes, at 10 of the 13 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.
- Can I use Clark Fork 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.