Kootenai River Flow Today
As of October 9, 2026 at 12:30 AM, the Kootenai River is flowing at 5,010 cfs near Bonners Ferry Id, ID — 107% of normal for the date. 4 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 3,830 to 5,010 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Kootenai River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Kootenai 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 Bonners Ferry Id, the Kootenai River is running 5,010 cfs — 107% of normal. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are near normal (the typical gauge is at 100% of normal).
Paddlers: 2 of 5 runs on the Kootenai River with a live range are in range, 3 too low.
How the Kootenai 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
- Libby Mount2,121 ft 4,260 cfs105%
- Leonia Id1,805 ft 4,400 cfs95%
- Bonners Ferry Id1,773 ft 5,010 cfs107%
- Porthill Id1,744 ft 3,830 cfs79%
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 Kootenai River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (100%).
Kootenai River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kootenai River Below Libby Dam Near Libby Mount MT
Oct 9, 1:00 AM · USGS 12301933 |
4,260 cfs | 105% | 0% | 17.88 ft | 2,121 ft |
|
Kootenai River At Leonia Id ID
Oct 9, 12:15 AM · USGS 12305000 |
4,400 cfs | 95% | 0% | 10.34 ft | 1,805 ft |
|
Kootenai River Bel Moyie River Near Bonners Ferry Id ID
Oct 9, 12:30 AM · USGS 12308000 |
5,010 cfs | 107% | -1% | 71.50 ft | 1,773 ft |
|
Kootenai River @ Tribal Hatchery Near Bonners Ferry ID
Last reported Dec 17 · USGS 12310100 |
15,700 cfs | · | · | 52.13 ft | 1,745 ft |
|
Kootenai River At Porthill Id ID
Oct 8, 12:45 AM · USGS 12322000 |
3,830 cfs | 79% | -10% | 44.20 ft | 1,744 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.
Paddle runs on the Kootenai River
2 of 5 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).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headwaters, East And North Fork Of The Yaak River To Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33N, R33W Gauge: Leonia Id |
In range | 4,400 cfs | 3,047–19,742 cfs typical | · |
| Kootenai River Gauge: Bonners Ferry Id |
In range | 5,010 cfs | 5,000–30,000 cfs | III–IV |
| 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek Gauge: Libby Mount |
Too low | 4,260 cfs | 5,000–30,000 cfs | III–IV |
| Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana Gauge: Libby Mount |
Too low | 4,260 cfs | 5,000–30,000 cfs | III–IV |
| Kootenai River Gauge: Leonia Id |
Too low | 4,400 cfs | 5,000–30,000 cfs | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the Kootenai River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kootenai River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kootenai River
The Kootenai River is a 485-mile long waterway that flows from British Columbia, Canada, into Montana, USA. Historically, the river was used by indigenous tribes for fishing, trading, and transportation. Today, the Kootenai River is an important source of hydroelectric power with several dams and reservoirs along its course, including the Libby Dam, which creates the 90-mile-long Lake Koocanusa. The river and its tributaries are also used for irrigation, supporting agriculture in the region. Recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping are popular along the river, particularly in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Kootenai River is also known for its scenic beauty, with steep canyons, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.
Fishing near the Kootenai River
About the Kootenai River
How is the Kootenai River flowing right now?
As of October 9, 2026, the Kootenai River is flowing at 5,010 cfs near Bonners Ferry Id, ID, about 107% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 3,830 to 5,010 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kootenai River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kootenai River is at 100% 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.
Is the Kootenai River runnable for paddling today?
2 of 5 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.