North Santiam River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the North Santiam River is flowing at 1,360 cfs at Mehama, OR — 41% of normal for the date and up 1% in 24 hours. 3 of 3 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 1,160 to 1,360 cfs. ❤ Favorite
North Santiam River map
See the North Santiam River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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North Santiam 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 Mehama, the North Santiam River is running 1,360 cfs — 41% of normal, up 1% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 41% of normal).
Paddlers: 7 of 7 runs on the North Santiam River with a live range are in range.
How the North Santiam 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
- Niagara1,103 ft 1,290 cfs43%
- Mehama609 ft 1,360 cfs41%
- Jefferson249 ft 1,160 cfs39%
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 North Santiam River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (41%).
North Santiam River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Santiam River At Niagara OR
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 14181500 |
1,290 cfs | 43% | +2% | 3.18 ft | · | 1,103 ft |
|
North Santiam River At Mehama OR
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 14183000 |
1,360 cfs | 41% | +1% | 3.31 ft | 7.7 ft below | 609 ft |
|
North Santiam River Near Jefferson OR
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 14184100 |
1,160 cfs | 39% | 0% | 14.08 ft | · | 249 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 North Santiam River
7 of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Axe Creek To Willamette Nf Boundary Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 400–3,000 cfs | III–IV |
| Confluence With North Fork Breitenbush River To Detroit Reservoir Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 400–2,500 cfs | III+ |
| Highway 22 To Confluence With Rainbow Creek Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 800–3,200 cfs | III–V |
| Little North Santiam River Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 1,000–9,000 cfs | III–IV |
| North Santiam River Gauge: Mehama |
In range | 1,360 cfs | 1,000–2,000 cfs | III |
| North Santiam River Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 800–3,200 cfs | III–IV |
| Packsaddle County Park to Mill City Gauge: Niagara |
In range | 1,290 cfs | 1,000–9,000 cfs | II+ TO III+ |
| Headwaters To Mt Jefferson Wilderness Boundary | No live range | · | 800–3,200 cfs | II–IV |
| Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Boundary To Highway 22 | No live range | · | 800–3,200 cfs | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the North Santiam River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
North Santiam River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
North Santiam River
The North Santiam River is a 92-mile river located in western Oregon, United States. The river was originally used by Native Americans for fishing and trading purposes. The river flows through the Cascade Range and is fed by numerous tributaries. The river has two major reservoirs, Detroit Lake and Big Cliff Reservoir, both of which were built in the mid-20th century for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. The North Santiam River is also used for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The river is home to a variety of fish species, including Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and rainbow trout. The surrounding agricultural land is irrigated with water from the river, making it an important resource for the local farming communities.
About the North Santiam River
How is the North Santiam River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the North Santiam River is flowing at 1,360 cfs at Mehama, OR, about 41% of normal for the date. Across its 3 USGS gauges, current flows range from 1,160 to 1,360 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the North Santiam River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the North Santiam River is at 41% 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 North Santiam River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Mehama (11.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the North Santiam River runnable for paddling today?
7 of 9 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.