CLACKAMAS RIVER
River Levels • Streamgages • Weather
Total streamflow across the
Clackamas River
was last observed at
2,526
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
5,010
acre-ft of water today; about 94%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,699 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2015-12-08 when daily discharge volume was observed at
72,200 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Clackamas River At Estacada
reporting a streamflow rate of 899 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Clackamas River Near Oregon City
with a gauge stage of 23.32 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Clackamas River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,148 ft, the
Clackamas River Above Three Lynx Creek.
The Clackamas River is a 83-mile long tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon. It has a rich history, including use by indigenous tribes for fishing and transportation, and later by European settlers for logging and mining. The river is known for its hydrology, with an average flow of 1,100 cubic feet per second and several significant dams and reservoirs. These include the River Mill Dam, which provides hydroelectric power, and the Timothy Lake reservoir, which is used for water storage and recreational activities. The Clackamas River is a popular destination for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and camping, and it also supports agricultural uses such as irrigation and livestock grazing. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect the river's natural ecosystems and wildlife.
July 26, 2024
°F
°F
mph
Windspeed
%
Humidity
| Last Updated | 2024-07-26 |
| Discharge Volume | 5,010 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,526.0 cfs
-13.0 cfs (-0.51%) |
| Percent of Normal | 93.6% |
| Maximum |
72,200.0 cfs
2015-12-08 |
| Seasonal Avg | 2,699 cfs |
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Clackamas River Above Three Lynx Creek
USGS 14209500 |
747 cfs | 0.7 ft | -2.23 | |||||
|
Clackamas River At Estacada
USGS 14210000 |
899 cfs | 11.4 ft | 5.27 | |||||
|
Clackamas River Near Oregon City
USGS 14211010 |
880 cfs | 23.32 ft | -4.45 |
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Historical River Levels
The Clackamas River is an approximately 83-mile (134 km) tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon, in the United States. Draining an area of about 940 square miles (2,435 km2), the Clackamas flows through mostly forested and rugged mountainous terrain in its upper reaches, and passes agricultural and urban areas in its lower third.
The river rises in eastern Marion County, about 55 miles (89 km) east-southeast of Salem. The headwaters are on the slopes of Olallie Butte in the Mount Hood National Forest, about 10 miles (16 km) north of Mount Jefferson, at an elevation of 4,909 feet (1,496 m) in the Cascade Range. The Clackamas flows briefly north and then flows northwest through the mountains, passing through North Fork Reservoir and Estacada. It then emerges from the mountains southeast of Portland. It joins the Willamette near Oregon City and forms the boundary between Oregon City and Gladstone.
The Clackamas provides hydroelectric power and drinking water for some of the Portland metropolitan area, and it supports runs of Coho salmon, spring and fall Chinook salmon, and summer and winter steelhead. The river's old-growth forests, its habitat for several species of birds, its healthy fish runs, and the recreational opportunities that it provides—such as fishing and whitewater rafting—led to the designation of more than half of the length of the river into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS). This environment also allowed Native Americans to settle in the river's basin as early as 10,000 years ago.
Regulation of the river began in 1905 with the Cazadero Dam. In 1912, the River Mill Dam intercepted wood and coarse sediment. Later dams at North Fork, Oak Grove, Stone Creek, and Timothy Lake also intercepted wood sediment on the lower river.
