5 USGS Streamgages · Columbia River system
Kootenai River flows and levels
Kootenai River is gauged at 5 USGS streamgages in Montana and Idaho, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 170 miles (274 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Columbia River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 8,999 square miles at Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby, MT up to 13,700 at Kootenai River at Porthill Id Total Flow. The gauged reach falls about 373 feet, from 2,123 feet down to 1,750. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby, MT | MT | 8,999 | 2,123 | 4,066.7 | 10,092.6 | 14-day |
| Kootenai River at Leonia, ID | ID | 11,740 | 1,827 | 9,608.3 | 11,980.6 | 14-day + temp |
| Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry, ID | ID | 12,690 | 1,781 | — | — | — |
| Kootenai River at Porthill, ID | ID | 13,700 | 1,766 | 12,786.7 | 11,087.1 | 14-day + temp |
| Kootenai River at Porthill Id Total Flow | ID | 13,700 | 1,750 | 13,495.7 | 17,867.7 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at Kootenai River at Porthill Id Total Flow
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 98 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 | 3,111.9 | 5,891 | 22,296.8 | |
| February | 3,320 | 5,886.2 | 20,465.5 | |
| March | 4,141.9 | 6,627.1 | 16,316.1 | |
| April | 7,266 | 13,495.7 | 29,073.3 | |
| May | 14,645.2 | 31,600 | 60,080.6 | |
| June | 12,278 | 33,683.3 | 65,913.3 | |
| July | 7,640 | 17,867.7 | 34,461.3 | |
| August | 6,467.7 | 10,604.8 | 17,580.6 | |
| September | 5,619 | 7,575.7 | 13,836.7 | |
| October | 4,757.4 | 6,416.1 | 18,135.5 | |
| November | 4,387.3 | 8,304.3 | 22,750 | |
| December | 3,510 | 9,313.9 | 25,664.5 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Kootenai River run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Kootenai River at Porthill Id Total Flow — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 33,683.3 cfs that month, against 5,886.2 cfs in February, 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 Kootenai River?
- Rivermatics tracks 5 USGS streamgages on the Kootenai River, across Montana 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 Kootenai River?
- Yes, at 4 of the 5 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 Kootenai River part of?
- The Kootenai 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 Kootenai 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