Boise River at Boise
Idaho · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 13206000 — BOISE RIVER AT GLENWOOD BRIDGE NR BOISE ID · NWS forecast point BIGI1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 656 CFS, this gauge is running 75% of normal for late July — below the 870 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 44 years of record (1982–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Boise
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BIGI1, issued by WFO BOI. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood — ft · 15,000 CFS reached
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Moderate flood 12.9 ft · 11,000 CFS
- 4,200.0 ft Water will begin seeping onto low spots on the greenbelt path next to the river especially near bridge underpasses, and onto portions of the Bethine Church River Trail.
- 4,900.0 ft Water will cover low sections of the greenbelt path and Bethine Church River Trail adjacent to the river.
- 6,500.0 ft Large sections of the greenbelt path adjacent to the river will be submerged. Minor flooding may affect portions of Eagle Island.
- 7,000.0 ft Large sections of the greenbelt path adjacent to the river will be submerged. Erosion of river banks will also become a significant problem. Debris in the river including small trees and logs may begin piling up at bridge crossings. Minor flooding will be observed on sections of Eagle Island and in other low spots near the river. Minor flooding will spread downstream to low areas near the river in Star and Caldwell.
- 8,500.0 ft Large sections of the green belt will be submerged and severe bank erosion will occur. Flooding will occur in low areas close to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle and Caldwell, but the water should remain below the level of most residential areas. Water will begin seeping into the Garden City warehouse district between 45th and 47th streets.
- 8,900.0 ft Large sections of the green belt will be submerged and severe bank erosion will occur. Flooding will occur in low areas close to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle and Caldwell. Some residential areas near Eagle Island State Park will become inundated. Water will seep into the Garden City warehouse district between 45th and 47th streets. Flooding will impact portions of Marianne Williams Park in east Boise.
- 9,500.0 ft Flooding of low areas near the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell will occur. Debris in the river will collect on bridges crossing the river. Water will cover portions of Warm Springs Golf Course in east Boise. The water may affect some residential property near the river, but should stay below the level of most residential structures. The river will spill over its banks between 45th and 47th Street in Garden City into the warehouse district.
- 11,000.0 ft Flooding over Park Center Boulevard in southeast Boise near the Park Center Pond will occur. Flooding will occur in Municiple Park. Flooding near the river will occur in low areas of Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star and Caldwell. Portions of Eagle Island will be submerged with flooding of residential property in low lying areas near the river likely. The water should remain below the level of most residential structures, but access in and out of some neighborhoods will be limited by high water.
- 13,000.0 ft Flooding will occur in low areas and parkland adjacent to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell. Flooding of low lying residential streets in areas adjacent to the river is likely, especially on portions of Eagle Island. Debris damming on bridges crossing the river will occur and may cause water to spill over the road surfaces leading up to the bridge. Park Center Boulevard in southeast Boise will be flooded near the Park Center Pond.
- 16,600.0 ft Major flooding will occur near the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell. Some residential areas in low lying areas near the river will be flooded with water entering some houses. A flood of this magnitude has not occurred on the Boise River since 1943. Most of the area within the 100 year flood plain, including many city parks near the river, will be underwater. Debris piling up on bridge crossings will cause additional flood damage.
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Minor flood 10.1 ft · 7,000 CFS
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Action 9.7 ft · 6,500 CFS
- Right now 4.09 ft
NWS forecast: 0.64 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Boise
Daily values from USGS gauge 13206000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Boise
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.93 ft | 9,590 CFS | Jun 6, 2017 |
| 11.54 ft | 9,840 CFS | Jun 13, 1983 |
| 11.10 ft | 8,350 CFS | May 31, 1998 |
| 10.93 ft | 8,310 CFS | May 5, 2012 |
| 10.65 ft | 7,440 CFS | Apr 30, 2006 |
| 10.61 ft | 8,030 CFS | Jun 7, 1986 |
| 10.56 ft | 7,270 CFS | May 20, 2008 |
| 10.54 ft | 7,630 CFS | Jun 29, 1982 |
| 10.52 ft | 7,300 CFS | Mar 27, 1997 |
| 10.47 ft | 7,564 CFS | Jun 6, 1983 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Boise River at Boise
This gauge measures Boise River at Boise, Idaho — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Barber Park to Ann Morrison; only runs in a narrow window.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 870 CFS for late July, from 44 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Boise River at Boise — common questions
What is the current flow on Boise River at Boise?
As of the last reading on this page, Boise River at Boise was running 656 CFS at a gage height of 4.09 ft, or 75% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 13206000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 870 CFS, calculated from 44 years of record (1982–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What flow is good for tubing Boise River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.