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River report

South Santiam River Flow Today

As of November 5, 2026 at 12:10 AM, the South Santiam River is flowing at 1,310 cfs near Foster, OR — 66% of normal for the date. 3 of 3 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 61 to 1,310 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
3 3 reporting · upstream → down
South Santiam River Below Cascadia: 17% of normalSouth Santiam River Near Foster: 66% of normalSouth Santiam River At Waterloo: 54% of normal
Typical gauge
54% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
2 0 in range now
1 low
Updated
Nov 5, 12:10 AM
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South Santiam River map

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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:

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River briefing · Nov 5, 2026

South 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 Foster, the South Santiam River is running 1,310 cfs — 66% of normal. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 54% of normal).

Highest against normal: Foster at 66%. Lowest: Cascadia at 17%.

Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the South Santiam River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.

Headwaters to mouth

How the South 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

  1. Cascadia777 ft 61 cfs17%
  2. Foster524 ft 1,310 cfs66%
  3. Waterloo378 ft 1,290 cfs54%

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 South Santiam River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (54%).

Typical gauge 54%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal1Below normal2Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal0

South Santiam River flow report

3 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
South Santiam River Below Cascadia OR
Nov 5, 12:10 AM · USGS 14185000
61 cfs 17% -2% 2.18 ft · 777 ft
South Santiam River Near Foster OR
Nov 5, 12:10 AM · USGS 14187200
1,310 cfs 66% 0% 10.56 ft · 524 ft
South Santiam River At Waterloo OR
Nov 5, 12:15 AM · USGS 14187500
1,290 cfs 54% 0% 3.27 ft 8.7 ft below 378 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 South Santiam 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
Sevenmile Creek To Willamette Nf Boundary
Gauge: Cascadia
Too low 61 cfs 415–2,195 cfs typical III–IV
Headwaters Of Sevenmile Creek To Confluence With Latiwi Creek
Gauge: Cascadia
No live range 61 cfs 51–184 cfs typical III–IV
History

South Santiam River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

South Santiam River

The South Santiam River is located in the state of Oregon, USA. It is 66 miles in length and is a tributary of the Santiam River. The river has a long history of supporting agricultural communities along its length, such as the Sweet Home area, which was known for its logging and milling industries. The river is also known for its hydroelectric power generation, with several dams and reservoirs along its course. The Green Peter and Foster dams are two of the largest reservoirs on the river, providing water for irrigation and recreation opportunities. Recreational activities such as fishing, camping, and hiking are popular along the South Santiam River, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

FAQ

About the South Santiam River

How is the South Santiam River flowing right now?

As of November 5, 2026, the South Santiam River is flowing at 1,310 cfs near Foster, OR, about 66% of normal for the date. Across its 3 USGS gauges, current flows range from 61 to 1,310 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the South Santiam River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the South Santiam River is at 54% 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 South Santiam River?

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

Is the South Santiam 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