Lower Flathead HUC8 17010212
A 5,203 km² sub-basin of the Pacific Northwest region in MT. Drought coverage is from the US Drought Monitor (map of 2026-10-13); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
80
Healthy
Drought index
33
Abnormally dry
Area in D2+
0%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
0%
of 4 reporting
Median flow
93%
p40 of record
Water assets
1,149
16 springs · 649 wells
USGS gauges (4)
- South Fork Jocko River near Arlee MT1238140018 cfsp28 · normal
- Mission Creek ab reservoir nr St. Ignatius MT1237715018 cfsp28 · normal
- Flathead River at Perma MT123887007,580 cfsp52 · normal
- Flathead River near Polson MT123720007,230 cfsp53 · normal
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-22 | 33 | 0 | 0/4 | p40 |
| 2026-10-21 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p39 |
| 2026-10-20 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p40 |
| 2026-10-19 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p40 |
| 2026-10-18 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p41 |
| 2026-10-17 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p44 |
| 2026-10-16 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p45 |
| 2026-10-15 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p50 |
| 2026-10-14 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p48 |
| 2026-10-13 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p50 |
| 2026-10-12 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p54 |
| 2026-10-11 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p52 |
| 2026-10-10 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p42 |
| 2026-10-09 | 33 | 0 | 1/4 | p41 |
Top water assets
- 69Post Creekriver
- 69Middle Fork Mission Creekriver
- 69Post Creekriver
- 69Mission Creekriver
- 69Middle Fork Mission Creekriver
- 69South Fork Jocko Riverriver
- 69South Fork Jocko Riverriver
- 69Mission Creekriver
- 69Post Creekriver
- 67Little Bitterroot Riverriver