Summary
Total streamflow across the
Payette River
was last observed at
2,330
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
4,621
acre-ft of water today; about 47%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
4,928 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2019-04-10 when daily discharge volume was observed at
68,500 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Payette River Nr Letha Id
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,680 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Payette River, with a gauge stage of
8.12 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Payette River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,638 ft, the
Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-01-27 |
| Discharge Volume | 4,621 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,330.0 cfs
-2760.0 cfs (-54.22%) |
| Percent of Normal | 47.28% |
| Maximum |
68,500.0 cfs
2019-04-10 |
| Seasonal Avg | 4,928 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Payette River Nr Horseshoe Bend Id
USGS 13247500 |
1250 cfs | 3.48 ft | 6.48 | |||||
|
Payette River Nr Emmett Id
USGS 13249500 |
1640 cfs | 2.88 ft | -17.48 | |||||
|
Payette River Nr Letha Id
USGS 13250000 |
1680 cfs | 8.12 ft | -26.17 | |||||
|
Payette River Nr Payette Id
USGS 13251000 |
1310 cfs | 5 ft | 2.75 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Payette River is an 82.7-mile-long (133.1 km) river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.
Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Drainage in the watershed flows primarily from east to west, with the cumulative stream length to the head of the North Fork Payette River being 180 miles (290 km), while to the head of the South Fork the cumulative length is nearly 163 miles (262 km). The combined Payette River flows into an agricultural valley and empties into the Snake River near the city of Payette at an elevation of 2,125 feet (648 m). The Payette River's drainage basin comprises about 3,240 square miles (8,400 km2). It is a physiographic section of the Columbia Plateau province, which in turn is part of the larger Intermontane Plateaus physiographic division. The South Fork of the Payette has its headwaters in the Sawtooth Wilderness, which is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
Boise Nf Boundary To Confluence With Payette River
Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile East Of Banks) To Boise Nf Boundary (1 Mile South Of Banks)
South Fork Payette
Long Gulch To Boise Nf Boundary