Bear Creek At Friendsville flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Bear Creek At Friendsville is flowing at 71 cfs with a gage height of 2.01 ft, receding 26% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #03076600, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Bear Creek At Friendsville at a glance
How Bear Creek At Friendsville is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Bear Creek At Friendsville is flowing at 71 cfs, with the water sitting 2.01 ft at the gage. Flow is down 26% since yesterday as the gauge recedes.
This is USGS gauge #03076600 in Maryland. Over the past 10 days the average has been 90 cfs, peaking at 175 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Bear Creek At Friendsville is expected to recede from today's 97 cfs, toward roughly 48 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 18-130 cfs) -- about normal for the date.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Maryland flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Bear Creek At Friendsville
The primary constituents of the flow are rainfall and snowmelt. The stream is fed by several tributaries and is impounded by the Youghiogheny River Lake Dam upstream. The flow of the creek is seasonal, with high flows in the spring due to snowmelt and rain, and low flows in the summer and fall. The hydrology of the Bear Creek watershed is affected by the surrounding topography and land use, which includes forested areas, agricultural land, and residential development. An interesting fact about the Bear Creek watershed is that it is home to a diverse array of aquatic life, including trout, smallmouth bass, and crayfish.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Bear Creek At Friendsville's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Friendsville | 71 cfs |
| Youghiogheny River At Friendsville | 383 cfs |
| Youghiogheny River At Youghiogheny River Dam | 542 cfs |
| Youghiogheny River Below Confluence | 1,030 cfs |
| Laurel Hill Creek At Ursina | 76 cfs |
| Casselman River At Grantsville | 46 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Bear Creek At Friendsville. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Bruceton Mills 9.3 Se | 0 in |
| Sines Deep Creek Lake | 0 in |
| Confluence Dam | 0 in |
| Mc Henry 4.8 Sse | 0 in |
| Bruceton Mills 2.8 S | 0 in |
| Grantsville 2.0 Ese | 0 in |
Plan a trip
Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of Bear Creek At Friendsville.
Nearby reservoirs
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River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Bear Creek At Friendsville in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Bear Creek At Friendsville crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Bear Creek At Friendsville
Where does the streamflow data for Bear Creek At Friendsville come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 03076600. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Bear Creek At Friendsville rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Bear Creek At Friendsville report
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