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Streamflow Forecasts Vary from Near Average to Below Average

June 4, 2009

For More Information:
Roy Kaiser, 406-587-6991
Larry Cooper, 406-587-6842

Bozeman--State-wide, stream flow forecasts average between 82 and 97 percent. West of the Continental Divide, stream flow forecasts average between 89 and 101 percent and east of the Continental Divide, stream flow forecasts average between 75 and 94 percent. Most rivers and streams across the state have reached the snowmelt peak flows for this spring.

Below are averaged river basin stream flow forecast summaries for the period June 1 through July 31. THESE FORECASTS DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR WELL BELOW AVERAGE (70% or less) OR WELL ABOVE AVERAGE (130% or more) SNOWMELT OR RAIN. Specific forecast probabilities are available in each individual River Basin Report.

Streamflow Forecasts
River Basin June to July this Year Percent of Average June to July Last Year Percent of Average
Columbia 89 to 101 102 to 113
 Kootenai 75 to 86 103 to 113
 Flathead 81 to 93 106 to 118
 Upper Clark Fork 102 to 118 84 to 100
 Bitterroot 95 to 107 112 to 124
 Lower Clark Fork 92 to 96 119 to 123
Missouri 73 to 93 102 to 123
 Jefferson 79 to 103 89 to 115
 Madison 86 to 94 118 to 126
 Gallatin 102 to 112 120 to 131
 Missouri Mainstem 92 to 104 106 to 118
 Smith-Judith-Musselshell 58 to 84 107 to 133
Sun-Teton-Marias 58 to 80 105 to 124
Milk 53 to 80 84 to 125
St. Mary 87 to 91 94 to 111
Yellowstone 81 to 94 120 to 137
Upper Yellowstone 91 to 102 112 to 126
Lower Yellowstone 62 to 79 132 to 153
Statewide 82 to 97 105 to 122

NOTE: The JUNE-JULY LAST YEAR % OF AVERAGE column above is last years forecasts on June 1, NOT what actually occurred.

June 1 state-wide snowpack was 92 percent of average and 62 percent of last year. The Columbia River Basin was 99 percent of average; Missouri River Basin was 87 percent of average, St. Mary River Basin was 74 percent of average, and the Yellowstone River Basin was 72 percent of average. There was significant snowmelt the later part of May from the well above average temperatures.

Snow Water Content
River Basin Percent of Average Percent of Last Year May Percent of Change
Columbia 99 67 -3
Kootenai, Montana 87 68 -10
Flathead, Montana 101 67 +7
Upper Clark Fork 119 88 +2
Bitterroot 79 53 -30
Lower Clark Fork 96 54 -7
Missouri 87 56 -29
Missouri Headwaters 90 62 -28
Jefferson 91 74 -28
Madison 89 56 -24
Gallatin 100 63 -16
Missouri Mainstem 90 55 -23
Headwaters Mainstem 108 72 -13
Smith-Judith-Musselshell 96 54 -21
Sun-Teton-Marias 65 35 -39
St. Mary 74 62 -6
Yellowstone 72 47 -38
Upper Yellowstone 87 59 -31
Lower Yellowstone 54 34 -48
State-Wide 92 62 -18

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