North Fork Red River at Altus Dam
Oklahoma · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 07303000 — North Fork Red River blw Altus Dam nr Lugert, OK · NWS forecast point LGTO2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 0.7 CFS, this gauge is running 281% of normal for late July — above the 0.3 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 48 years of record (1978–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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12 months of flow at Altus Dam
Daily values from USGS gauge 07303000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Altus Dam
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 16.37 ft | 12,900 CFS | May 21, 1977 |
| 15.79 ft | 9,410 CFS | May 28, 2019 |
| 13.76 ft | 5,500 CFS | May 29, 1987 |
| 13.51 ft | 5,440 CFS | May 9, 1993 |
| 13.26 ft | 6,380 CFS | May 29, 1978 |
| 13.26 ft | 5,860 CFS | Apr 28, 1997 |
| 13.04 ft | 4,060 CFS | May 9, 2019 |
| 12.93 ft | 4,830 CFS | Jun 1, 1990 |
| 12.70 ft | 16,100 CFS | May 18, 1951 |
| 11.89 ft | 4,920 CFS | Jun 14, 1989 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About North Fork Red River at Altus Dam
This gauge sits on North Fork Red River at Altus Dam, Oklahoma, immediately below Lake Altus-Lugert. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 0.3 CFS for late July, from 48 years of record.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Altus-Lugert. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
North Fork Red River at Altus Dam — common questions
What is the current flow on North Fork Red River at Altus Dam?
As of the last reading on this page, North Fork Red River at Altus Dam was running 0.7 CFS at a gage height of 5.18 ft, or 281% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07303000, 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 0.3 CFS, calculated from 48 years of record (1978–2026). 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.
Is North Fork Red River at Altus Dam wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 0.3 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Lake Altus-Lugert affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 07303000. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge LGTO2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.