Water Resources of Montana

USGS Montana Highlights

Water Data Reports (Quick look:
Beginning with water year 2006, the annual water data product took on a new format different from the previous report series. The basic product is a Site Data Sheet that serves to publish all data collected during the water year at any given site. For more information about this topic, click now.)

Beginning with water year 2006, the annual water data product took on a new format different from the previous report series. The basic product is a Site Data Sheet that serves to publish all data collected during the water year at any given site in the United States. The 2006 and 2007 USGS Water Data Reports are available online and improve on the previous online reports with a new interactive feature designed to make site data retrieval easier and more convenient. Access the Water Data Report here () or use the map () interface.

Featured Project

Clark Fork Water-Quality Monitoring

In 1993, a long-term monitoring program was implemented in cooperation with the USEPA at an expanded network of sites in the upper Clark Fork basin. In 2006, supplemental sampling was initiated in cooperation with the USEPA at sites in the lower Clark Fork basin from near Milltown Reservoir to the Flathead River to obtain additional water-quality information related to the removal of Milltown Dam.

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Monthly Conditions Report

 

OCTOBER STREAMFLOWS AND
RESERVOIR STORAGE MOSTLY NORMAL

At eight long-term U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations, the monthly mean streamflows for the month of October were normal at five and below normal at three. The monthly mean streamflows at the following stations were normal:

• Blackfoot River near Bonner
• Clark Fork River at St. Regis
• Marias River near Shelby
• Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs
• Yellowstone River at Billings

The monthly mean streamflow was below normal on the Yakk River near Troy, Middle Fork Flathead River near West Glacier, and Rock Creek below Horse Creek, near the international boundary.

Water storage remained in the normal range at five out of six major hydroelectric reservoirs in Montana: Canyon Ferry Lake, Bighorn Lake, Lake Koocanusa, Hungry Horse Reservoir, and Flathead Lake. Storage remained below normal in Fort Peck Lake.

For the month of October, water storage at four major irrigation reservoirs was normal at three and below normal at one. Storage at Lima, Gibson, and Fresno Reservoirs was normal; Clark Canyon Reservoir remained below normal.

Streamflow and reservoir data and long-term-averages are summarized for purposes of comparison. Data in this release are preliminary. Final data will be provided in the annual report (WDR-US-2009), Water-resources data for the United States.

Supporting data are available online