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River report

Nehalem River Flow Today

As of October 11, 2026 at 12:15 AM, the Nehalem River is flowing at 98 cfs near Foss, OR — 60% of normal for the date and up 1% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 6.1 to 98 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
2 2 reporting · upstream → down
Nehalem River Near Vernonia: 66% of normalNehalem River Near Foss: 60% of normal
Typical gauge
63% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
2 0 in range now
2 low
Updated
Oct 11, 12:15 AM
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Nehalem River map

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River briefing · Oct 11, 2026

Nehalem 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 Foss, the Nehalem River is running 98 cfs — 60% of normal, up 1% since yesterday. Along the river, 2 of 2 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 63% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Vernonia (+19%).

Paddlers: 0 of 2 runs on the Nehalem River with a live range are in range, 2 too low.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Nehalem 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. Vernonia681 ft 6.1 cfs66%
  2. Foss40 ft 98 cfs60%

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 Nehalem River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (63%).

Typical gauge 63%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal2Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal0

Nehalem River flow report

2 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Nehalem River Near Vernonia OR
Oct 11, 1:05 AM · USGS 14299800
6.1 cfs 66% +19% 3.77 ft 8.2 ft below 681 ft
Nehalem River Near Foss OR
Oct 11, 12:15 AM · USGS 14301000
98 cfs 60% +1% 1.59 ft 13.4 ft below 40 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 Nehalem River

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
Kilches River
Gauge: Foss
Too low 98 cfs 1,500–5,000 cfs III–IV
Nehalem River
Gauge: Foss
Too low 98 cfs 1,951–5,128 cfs typical II–III
History

Nehalem River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Nehalem River

The Nehalem River is a 119-mile-long river located in northwestern Oregon, USA. It is known for its pristine waters and rich salmon habitat. Historically, the river was used by Native American tribes for fishing and transportation. Today, the river is an important source of irrigation for agricultural lands and provides water for local communities. The river is also home to several dams and reservoirs, including the Vernonia Reservoir, which was built in the 1950s for flood control and water storage. Recreation is also popular along the Nehalem River, with opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and hiking. The river and its surrounding watershed are protected by various conservation efforts to maintain water quality and support biodiversity.

Around the river

Fishing near the Nehalem River

FAQ

About the Nehalem River

How is the Nehalem River flowing right now?

As of October 11, 2026, the Nehalem River is flowing at 98 cfs near Foss, OR, about 60% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 6.1 to 98 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Nehalem River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Nehalem River is at 63% 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 Nehalem River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Vernonia (12.0 ft), Foss (15.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Is the Nehalem River runnable for paddling today?

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