TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE
Total streamflow across the
Musselshell River
was last observed at
152
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
301
acre-ft of water today; about 133%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
114 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2011-06-10 when daily discharge volume was observed at
51,070 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Musselshell River At Musselshell Mt
reporting a streamflow rate of 105 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt
with a gauge stage of 3.01 ft.
This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Musselshell River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,668 ft, the
Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale.
The Musselshell River is a tributary of the Missouri River that runs through Montana. It has a length of approximately 360 miles, originating in the Crazy Mountains and flowing eastward until it reaches the Missouri River. The river has a rich history, with evidence of Native American settlements dating back thousands of years. Today, the Musselshell River is an important source of irrigation for agricultural purposes, and several reservoirs and dams have been constructed along its course, including the Yellowtail Dam and the Fort Peck Dam. These dams provide hydroelectric power and control flooding along the river. Recreational activities, such as fishing, hunting, and camping, are popular along the Musselshell River, making it an important part of Montana's outdoor recreation economy.
| Last Updated | 2024-12-11 |
| Discharge Volume | 301 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
151.8 cfs
+2.6 cfs (+1.74%) |
| Percent of Normal | 132.69% |
| Maximum |
51,070.0 cfs
2011-06-10 |
| Seasonal Avg | 114 cfs |
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale
USGS 06119600 |
32 cfs | 1.48 ft | -2.45 | |||||
|
Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt
USGS 06120500 |
91 cfs | 3 ft | 114.18 | |||||
|
Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt
USGS 06123030 |
53 cfs | 3.01 ft | -18.59 | |||||
|
Musselshell River Near Roundup Mt
USGS 06126500 |
53 cfs | 1.55 ft | 19.46 | |||||
|
Musselshell River At Musselshell Mt
USGS 06127500 |
105 cfs | 2.3 ft | 1.94 | |||||
|
Musselshell River At Mosby Mt
USGS 06130500 |
82 cfs | 2.75 ft | 6.89 |
History of the River
The Musselshell River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 341.9 miles (550.2 km) long from its origins at the confluence of its North and South Forks near Martinsdale, Montana to its mouth on the Missouri River. It is located east of the Continental divide entirely within Montana in the United States. Counting its pre-confluence tributaries, it measures 425–500 miles (684–805 km) in length.It rises in several forks in the Crazy, Little Belt, and Castle mountains in central Montana. The main branch is formed by the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork in Meagher County, about 25 miles (40 km) east of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, just east of Martinsdale, north of Martinsdale Reservoir, and just west of Meagher County's border with Wheatland County. The North Fork flows south from the Little Belt Mountains through Bair Reservoir, then southeast. The South Fork flows northeast from the Crazy Mountains. From the confluence of these two waterways, the main branch flows roughly due east past Two Dot, Harlowton, and Roundup, then turns north just past Melstone, and continues to the UL Bend on the Missouri River at the beginning of Fort Peck Reservoir.The Musselshell River has also been known as: Cockkleshell River, Mahtush-ahzhah, Muscleshell River, Mustleshell River, Shell River. The Musselshell was entered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on May 20, 1805 and named by them for the freshwater mussels lining the bank, noting in their journals that the Minnetare people had given the waterway a similar name. The Blackfeet, who hunted buffalo and prepared the meat for winter in the Musselshell area, called it the Dried Meat River.