MONTANA FLOW REPORT

July 26 2024

Streamflow levels across Montana are currently 67.0% of normal, with the Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt reporting the highest discharge in the state with 11000cfs and gauge stage of 20.45 ft. Meanwhile, the Two Medicine River Bl South Fork Nr Browning Mt is seeing a spike in streamflows today after experiencing a 13.64% increase since yesterday, and currently running at 275cfs.

Maximum gauge stage in the state was last observed at the Bighorn River Near St. Xavier, currently reporting a stage of 60.36ft. The Gallatin River At Logan Mt in the Gallatin watershed is surging for this time of year at 558cfs, about 19.28% of normal.

Montana has a varied climate and terrain that greatly affects its flow conditions. The state boasts of major rivers such as the Missouri, Yellowstone, and the Clark Fork, which drain into the Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia Rivers, respectively. Montana also has a number of reservoirs/dams, such as the Fort Peck Dam and the Hungry Horse Dam, which serve as major power sources and water storage for the state. The state's hydrology is influenced by its mountainous terrain, which leads to high precipitation levels and generates snowpacks. These snowpacks, in turn, largely determine the state's flow conditions in the summer months. Montana's flow conditions are also affected by its climate, which is characterized by dry summers and cold winters. Overall, Montana's flow conditions are shaped by a mix of climatic and topographic factors, including watershed, snowpack, and precipitation.