OWYHEE RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 21, 2024
42.03, -116.21


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Owyhee River was last observed at 259 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 514 acre-ft of water today; about 127% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 205 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2024-04-06 when daily discharge volume was observed at 18,607 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Owyhee River Nr Rome Or reporting a streamflow rate of 225 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Owyhee R Nr Mountain City with a gauge stage of 3.91 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Owyhee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 6,129 ft, the Owyhee R Nr Gold Creek.

The Owyhee River is a 346-mile-long (557 km) river that flows through Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. The river was named after the Hawaiian fur trappers who worked in the area in the early 19th century. The Owyhee River basin is one of the least developed and most remote areas in the western United States. The river is fed by snowmelt and rainfall and is known for its steep canyons and rugged terrain. There are several reservoirs and dams along the river, including the Owyhee Dam, which creates Lake Owyhee, and the Unity Dam, which creates Unity Reservoir. These reservoirs are used for irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation. The Owyhee River is also a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, and rafting. The river flows through the Owyhee Canyonlands, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and pronghorn antelope.

Last Updated 2024-12-21
Discharge Volume 514 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 258.91 cfs
-3.87 cfs (-1.47%)
Percent of Normal 126.57%
Maximum 18,607.02 cfs
2024-04-06
Seasonal Avg 205 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Owyhee R Nr Gold Creek
USGS 13174500
3 cfs 0.26 ft 4.68
Owyhee R Nr Mountain City
USGS 13175100
81 cfs 3.91 ft 231.43
Owyhee River Nr Rome Or
USGS 13181000
225 cfs 1.67 ft -1.75
Owyhee River Below Owyhee Dam Or
USGS 13183000
31 cfs 0.98 ft 0
History of the River

The Owyhee River is a tributary of the Snake River located in northern Nevada, southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon in the United States. It is 346 miles (557 km) long. The river's drainage basin is 11,049 square miles (28,620 km2) in area, one of the largest subbasins of the Columbia Basin. The mean annual discharge is 995 cubic feet per second (28.2 m3/s), with a maximum of 50,000 cu ft/s (1,400 m3/s) recorded in 1993 and a minimum of 42 cu ft/s (1.2 m3/s) in 1954.The Owyhee drains a remote area of the arid plateau region immediately north of the Great Basin, rising in northeastern Nevada and flowing generally northward near the Oregon-Idaho border to the Snake River. Its watershed is very sparsely populated. The Owyhee River and its tributaries flow through the Owyhee Plateau, cutting deep canyons, often with vertical walls and in some places over 1,000 feet (300 m) deep.

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