Featured Streamgage: Missouri River at Fort Benton
Installed in 1881, the Missouri River streamgage in Fort Benton, Montana, boasts 144 years of continuous recorded data. Data from this site support river monitoring and flood forecasting, and help recreationists understand current river conditions.
In 1881, the USGS placed a streamgage on the Missouri River in Fort Benton. The streamgage is still in operation today and continues to provide real-time streamflow data. These data are crucial for people, communities, and ecosystems that rely on the river. For instance, recreational users, such as anglers and boaters, use this information to assess river conditions within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, situated downstream. The gage also serves as a critical flood forecasting point for downstream water users. The Fort Benton streamgage is also part of the USGS Federal Priority Streamgage Network – a nationwide, long-term water monitoring network.
Fort Benton, Montana is the uppermost navigable port within the Missouri-Mississippi River system, and is considered the most inland port in the United States. During the 19th century, steamboats used this strategic location as a critical nexus for transporting people and goods between the Pacific Northwest and the Missouri-Mississippi River system.
Over its operational history, the Fort Benton streamgage has documented numerous extreme hydrological events, including floods and ice jams. Notably, in January 2023, the gage recorded a rapid eight-foot surge in water level within a few hours, due to an ice jam.
Want to delve deeper into the world of streamgaging? Uncover the fundamentals and explore the science behind these important water monitoring tools by checking out our Streamgaging Basics.
Installed in 1881, the Missouri River streamgage in Fort Benton, Montana, boasts 144 years of continuous recorded data. Data from this site support river monitoring and flood forecasting, and help recreationists understand current river conditions.
In 1881, the USGS placed a streamgage on the Missouri River in Fort Benton. The streamgage is still in operation today and continues to provide real-time streamflow data. These data are crucial for people, communities, and ecosystems that rely on the river. For instance, recreational users, such as anglers and boaters, use this information to assess river conditions within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, situated downstream. The gage also serves as a critical flood forecasting point for downstream water users. The Fort Benton streamgage is also part of the USGS Federal Priority Streamgage Network – a nationwide, long-term water monitoring network.
Fort Benton, Montana is the uppermost navigable port within the Missouri-Mississippi River system, and is considered the most inland port in the United States. During the 19th century, steamboats used this strategic location as a critical nexus for transporting people and goods between the Pacific Northwest and the Missouri-Mississippi River system.
Over its operational history, the Fort Benton streamgage has documented numerous extreme hydrological events, including floods and ice jams. Notably, in January 2023, the gage recorded a rapid eight-foot surge in water level within a few hours, due to an ice jam.
Want to delve deeper into the world of streamgaging? Uncover the fundamentals and explore the science behind these important water monitoring tools by checking out our Streamgaging Basics.