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River report

Deschutes River Flow Today

As of November 10, 2026 at 11:45 PM, the Deschutes River is flowing at 4,410 cfs at Moody, OR — 89% of normal for the date. 5 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 175 to 4,410 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
5 5 reporting · upstream → down
Deschutes River Near Culver: 93% of normalDeschutes River Near Madras: 88% of normalDeschutes River Near Rainier: 61% of normalDeschutes River At Moody: 89% of normalDeschutes River At E St. Bridge At Tumwater: 77% of normal
Typical gauge
88% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
16 2 in range now
2 low2 in range
Updated
Nov 10, 11:45 PM
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River briefing · Nov 11, 2026

Deschutes River conditions today

Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.

At Moody, the Deschutes River is running 4,410 cfs — 89% of normal. Along the river, 4 of 5 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 88% of normal).

Highest against normal: Culver at 93%. Lowest: Rainier at 61%.

Paddlers: 2 of 4 runs on the Deschutes River with a live range are in range, 2 too low.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Deschutes River compares to normal

Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.

Flow along the river, upstream to downstream

  1. Culver1,951 ft 853 cfs93%
  2. Madras1,396 ft 3,870 cfs88%
  3. Rainier363 ft 175 cfs61%
  4. Moody174 ft 4,410 cfs89%
  5. Tumwater97 ft 217 cfs77%

Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.

Where every gauge sits

One dot per Deschutes River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (88%).

Typical gauge 88%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal4Near normal1Above normal0Much above normal0

Deschutes River flow report

5 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Deschutes River Near Culver OR
Nov 11, 12:00 AM · USGS 14076500
853 cfs 93% +5% 3.01 ft · 1,951 ft
Deschutes River Near Madras OR
Nov 10, 11:30 PM · USGS 14092500
3,870 cfs 88% 0% 2.78 ft · 1,396 ft
Deschutes River Near Rainier WA
Nov 10, 11:45 PM · USGS 12079000
175 cfs 61% +3% 3.89 ft 7.1 ft below 363 ft
Deschutes River At Moody OR
Nov 10, 11:45 PM · USGS 14103000
4,410 cfs 89% 0% 2.89 ft 5.1 ft below 174 ft
Deschutes River At E St. Bridge At Tumwater WA
Nov 10, 11:45 PM · USGS 12080010
217 cfs 77% -2% 24.94 ft · 97 ft

USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.

Whitewater & paddle

Paddle runs on the Deschutes River

2 of 16 runs are in range right now. Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).

RunStatusFlow nowRunnable rangeClass
Cline Falls State Park to Lower Bridge
Gauge: Culver
In range 853 cfs 700–2,000 cfs III
Warm Springs to Sherars Falls
Gauge: Madras
In range 3,870 cfs 3,000–8,000 cfs III TO III+
Canyon Run (Lower Bridge to Billy Chinook Res.)
Gauge: Culver
Too low 853 cfs 900–2,500 cfs IV– TO IV+
Crooked River National Grassland Boundary To Confluence With Deschutes River
Gauge: Culver
Too low 853 cfs 900–2,500 cfs II–IV
Bend to Tumalo State Park (Riverhouse Run) No live range · 500–1,500 cfs IV TO IV+
Benham Falls to Dillon Falls No live range · 800–3,000 cfs V– TO V+
Big River to Benham Falls No live range · 700–3,000 cfs I TO II
Dillon Falls to Mount Bachelor Village (Big Eddy) No live range · 800–3,000 cfs III TO V
Dillon Falls to Mount Bachelor Village (Big Eddy) No live range · 800–3,000 cfs III TO V
Little Lava Lake To Crane Prairie Reservoir No live range · 462–1,360 cfs typical III+
Lower Deschutes (Sherars Falls to Columbia River) No live range · 3,000–8,000 cfs III TO III+
Pringle Falls to Big River Campground No live range · 500–3,500 cfs I TO II–
Source To Confluence With Deschutes River No live range · 53–784 cfs typical III–IV
Springs Sec 30, T21S, R8E To Wickiup Reservoir No live range · 57–60 cfs typical II
Tumalo State Park to Cline Falls State Park No live range · 700–2,000 cfs III– TO III+
Wickiup Dam to Pringle Falls Campground No live range · 500–3,500 cfs I
History

Deschutes River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated 2026-11-01; the live gauge readings above are current).

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Deschutes River

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.

FAQ

About the Deschutes River

How is the Deschutes River flowing right now?

As of November 10, 2026, the Deschutes River is flowing at 4,410 cfs at Moody, OR, about 89% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 175 to 4,410 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Deschutes River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Deschutes River is at 88% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.

What is flood stage on the Deschutes River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Rainier (11.0 ft), Moody (8.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Is the Deschutes River runnable for paddling today?

2 of 16 paddle runs are in range right now. Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.

Where does the data come from?

Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.

Can I get alerts for a gauge?

Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.

More river levels

Rivers in Oregon & Washington

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