MILK RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 25, 2024
48.99, -110.50


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

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

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
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
History of the River

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.

       

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