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CLACKAMAS RIVER

River Levels • Streamflow • Hydrology

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Total streamflow across the Clackamas River was last observed at 4,160 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 8,251 acre-ft of water today; about 35% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 11,857 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 Near Oregon City reporting a streamflow rate of 1,640 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Clackamas River, with a gauge stage of 24.25 ft at this location. 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.

December 6, 2024

Last Updated	2024-12-05
Discharge Volume	8,251 ACRE-FT
Streamflow	4,160.0 cfs +1540.0 cfs (+58.78%)
Percent of Normal	35.09%
Maximum	72,200.0 cfs 2015-12-08
Seasonal Avg	11,857 cfs

History of the River

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.