Total streamflow across the
Milk River
was last observed at
425
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
844
acre-ft of water today; about 62%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
688 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2018-04-24 when daily discharge volume was observed at
72,890 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Milk River At Nashua Mt
reporting a streamflow rate of 234 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Milk River Near Dodson Mt
with a gauge stage of 4.47 ft.
This river is monitored from 8 different streamgauging stations along the Milk River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,656 ft, the
Milk River At Eastern Crossing Of Int Bndry.
The Milk River is a tributary of the Missouri River that spans 729 kilometers and flows through Montana and Alberta, Canada. The river is named after its milky appearance, which is caused by suspended sediments from glacial runoff. The Milk River was historically important to the indigenous Blackfeet people, who relied on it for water and hunting. The St. Mary River Dam and Reservoir, located in Montana, was built in 1921 for irrigation purposes and is the largest reservoir on the Milk River. Other reservoirs include the Fresno Reservoir and Nelson Reservoir. The Milk River is used for recreational activities like fishing, hunting, and camping, and supports agricultural practices in the surrounding areas. In recent years, drought and climate change have led to decreased water levels and concerns about the river's future sustainability.
Last Updated | 2024-11-21 |
Discharge Volume | 844 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
425.3 cfs
-249.3 cfs (-36.96%) |
Percent of Normal | 61.83% |
Maximum |
72,890.0 cfs
2018-04-24 |
Seasonal Avg | 688 cfs |
Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milk River At Eastern Crossing Of Int Bndry
USGS 06135000 |
2 cfs | 1.67 ft | 0 | |||||
Milk River At Havre Mt
USGS 06140500 |
74 cfs | 0.53 ft | 2.2 | |||||
Milk River Near Harlem Mt
USGS 06154100 |
112 cfs | 2.87 ft | -2.61 | |||||
Milk River Near Dodson Mt
USGS 06155030 |
120 cfs | 4.47 ft | -8.4 | |||||
Milk River At Malta Mt
USGS 06155500 |
168 cfs | 1.83 ft | 5 | |||||
Milk River At Juneberg Bridge Nr Saco Mt
USGS 06164510 |
133 cfs | 3.15 ft | -34.48 | |||||
Milk River At Tampico Mt
USGS 06172310 |
215 cfs | 2.97 ft | 12.57 | |||||
Milk River At Nashua Mt
USGS 06174500 |
234 cfs | 1.99 ft | 0 |
The Milk River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 729 mi (1,173 km) long, in the U.S. state of Montana and the Canadian province of Alberta. Rising in the Rocky Mountains, the river drains a sparsely populated, semi-arid watershed of 23,800 sq mi (61,642 km2), ending just east of Fort Peck, Montana.