Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek

Idaho · Paddling & whitewater

Measured at USGS 13309220 — MF SALMON RIVER AT MF LODGE NR YELLOW PINE ID · NWS forecast point MIDI1

868CFS 92% of normal

Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC

Gage height1.95 ft
Median for late July945 CFS
Years of record36 (1973–2026)

In its normal runnable range

At 868 CFS, this gauge is running 92% of normal for late July — close to the 945 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 36 years of record (1973–2026).

Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.

12 months of flow at Boundary Creek

Loading history…

Daily values from USGS gauge 13309220. Provisional data, subject to revision.

Highest crests on record at Boundary Creek

StageFlowDate
10.80 ft20,900 CFSJun 16, 1974
8.75 ft16,300 CFSJun 1, 2017
8.68 ft16,300 CFSJun 5, 2010
8.49 ft15,700 CFSMay 21, 2008
8.23 ft14,300 CFSMay 31, 2003
7.95 ft13,300 CFSMay 29, 1999
7.78 ft11,100 CFSJun 7, 1975
7.68 ft12,700 CFSApr 26, 2012
7.49 ft12,000 CFSMay 22, 2023
7.35 ft11,700 CFSMay 20, 2009

Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.

About Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek

This gauge measures Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek, Idaho — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.

Permit-lottery 100-mile trip; flow decides the put-in.

Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 945 CFS for late July, from 36 years of record.

Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek — common questions

What is the current flow on Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek?

As of the last reading on this page, Middle Fork Salmon River at Boundary Creek was running 868 CFS at a gage height of 1.95 ft, or 92% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 13309220, 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 945 CFS, calculated from 36 years of record (1973–2026). 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 is a runnable level on this stretch?

riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.

How fast can this gauge come up?

This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.

Where does this data come from?

The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 13309220, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge MIDI1.

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