DESCHUTES RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 11, 2025

Winter Weather Advisory
2025-02-12T11:00:00-07:00

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches. * WHERE...All of northeast and east central Colorado, including the I-25 Urban Corridor. * WHEN...Snow will redevelop late this afternoon and early evening, and continue through Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Deschutes River was last observed at 9,964 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 19,763 acre-ft of water today; about 83% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 12,038 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-04-10 when daily discharge volume was observed at 35,060 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Deschutes River At Moody reporting a streamflow rate of 4,710 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Deschutes River At E St Bridge At Tumwater with a gauge stage of 25.13 ft. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Deschutes River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,951 ft, the Deschutes River Near Culver.

The Deschutes River is a major tributary to the Columbia River, running over 250 miles from its source in the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River Gorge. The river has a rich history, with Indigenous peoples using the river for fishing and transportation for thousands of years. European explorers and settlers later used the river for transportation, trade, and agriculture.

Hydrologically, the river is fed by both snowmelt and springs, and is regulated by a number of dams, including the Pelton Round Butte Dam Complex. The complex includes the Round Butte Dam, which creates Lake Billy Chinook, a popular recreational area for boating, fishing, and camping.

The Deschutes River provides irrigation water for agriculture in the region, and also supports a thriving recreational industry, with activities such as whitewater rafting, fishing, and hiking. It is home to a number of fish species, including steelhead and salmon, which have faced challenges due to the construction of dams and other human impacts on the river.

Last Updated 2025-02-09
Discharge Volume 19,763 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 9,964.0 cfs
None cfs (None%)
Percent of Normal 82.77%
Maximum 35,060.0 cfs
2019-04-10
Seasonal Avg 12,038 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Deschutes River Near Culver
USGS 14076500
868 cfs 3.1 ft -3.96
Deschutes River Near Madras
USGS 14092500
4370 cfs 2.99 ft 1.44
Deschutes River Near Rainier
USGS 12079000
98 cfs 3.58 ft -5.17
Deschutes River At Moody
USGS 14103000
4710 cfs 3.01 ft -4.2
Deschutes River At E St Bridge At Tumwater
USGS 12080010
234 cfs 25.13 ft -8.36
History of the River

The Deschutes River in central Oregon is a major tributary of the Columbia River. The river provides much of the drainage on the eastern side of the Cascade Range in Oregon, gathering many of the tributaries that descend from the drier, eastern flank of the mountains. The Deschutes provided an important route to and from the Columbia for Native Americans for thousands of years, and then in the 19th century for pioneers on the Oregon Trail. The river flows mostly through rugged and arid country, and its valley provides a cultural heart for central Oregon. Today the river supplies water for irrigation and is popular in the summer for whitewater rafting and fishing.
The river flows generally north, as do several other large Oregon tributaries of the Columbia River, including the Willamette and John Day.

       

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