Payette River near Horseshoe Bend water level
River gauge, Payette River, Idaho, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 803 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.10 ft by Friday, October 23 at 05:00 PM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 08:13 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
At 2.67 ft, the Payette River near Horseshoe Bend is below normal for mid-October.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.10 ft by Friday, October 23 at 05:00 PM. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.67 ft and 2.68 ft.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 16.35 ftDecember 23, 1964
- Forecast peak
- 3.10 ftFriday, October 23 at 05:00 PM
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
What happens at each level
- 14.90 ft
- MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE JUST UPSTREAM FROM THE HORSESHOE BEND HYDROPOWER CANAL INTAKE. WATER WILL BE NEAR THE TOP OF THE HORSESHOE BEND LEVEE. IF THE LEVEE IS OVERTOPPED... FLOODING WILL OCCUR IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF TOWN BETWEEN THE CANAL AND THE RIVER...INCLUDING THE AREAS NEAR ADAMS STREET AND LOCUST STREET AND PORTIONS OF RIVER AVENUE.
- 13.70 ft
- WATER WILL APPROACH THE TOP OF THE LEVEE BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL.
- 2.67 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.35 ft | December 23, 1964 |
| 2 | 15.63 ft | June 2, 1997 |
| 3 | 14.73 ft | June 5, 2010 |
| 4 | 14.43 ft | June 27, 1971 |
| 5 | 14.05 ft | December 23, 1956 |
| 6 | 13.96 ft | June 25, 1974 |
| 7 | 13.75 ft | April 27, 2012 |
| 8 | 13.55 ft | June 30, 1983 |
| 9 | 13.17 ft | June 8, 2017 |
| 10 | 13.15 ft | April 9, 2019 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Payette River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payette River near EmmettRiver gauge, Payette River | 1.84 ft | Below flood stage | −0.23 ft | 12 mi |
| Payette River near LethaRiver gauge, Payette River | 563 cfs | Low | −25.0 cfs | 22 mi |
| Payette River near PayetteRiver gauge, Payette River | 4.75 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 37 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon ReservoirReservoir | 2,490.44 ft | Low | 12 mi | |
| Nf Payette River near BanksRiver gauge, Nf Payette River | 242 cfs | Low | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Middle Fork Payette River near CrouchRiver gauge, Middle Fork Payette River | 5.47 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Eagle Drain at EagleCanal gauge, Eagle Drain | 13.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Boise River at Glenwood Bridge near BoiseRiver gauge, Boise River | 212 cfs | Low | −3.0 cfs | 20 mi |
| Boise River South Channel at EagleRiver gauge, Boise River South Channel | 188 cfs | Low | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Mores Creek above Robie Creek near Arrowrock DamRiver gauge, Mores Creek | 1.84 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 23 mi |
| North Middleton Drain Mill Slough at MiddletonRiver gauge, North Middleton Drain Mill Slough | 24.3 cfs | Normal | −1.5 cfs | 27 mi |
Questions and answers
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Payette River near Horseshoe Bend today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 07:30 AM PDT, the water level was 2.67 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Payette River near Horseshoe Bend rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Payette River near Horseshoe Bend normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Payette River near Horseshoe Bend?
The highest level on record is 16.35 ft on December 23, 1964.
Is Payette River near Horseshoe Bend expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.10 ft by Friday, October 23 at 05:00 PM.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:13247500(Agency page)- Coordinates
43.94333, -116.19667(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 2.67 ft | 2026-10-20 14:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 803 cfs | 2026-10-20 14:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Payette River near Horseshoe Bend (usgs:13247500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/idaho/payette-river-near-horseshoe-bend
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer