Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte water level

Name: Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Blacktail Creek, Montana, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

4.75ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 PM MDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 8.5 cfs
Water temperature: 50 °F

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte is at 4.75 ft, in the normal range.

It is 3.95 ft below the flood stage of 8.70 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 4.72 ft and 4.78 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 50 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 7.42 ftJuly 31, 2025

Floating and fishing near Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 8.70 ft, 3.95 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

8.70 ft: Flood waters may approach home owners properties on Yale Avenue and C Street in Butte. Additional flooding of low-lying areas along Blacktail Creek between Harrison Avenue and South Montana Street is possible.
4.75 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	7.42 ft	July 31, 2025
2	6.57 ft	June 8, 2020
3	5.98 ft	June 8, 2022

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:56 AM Sunset 06:35 PM Daylight 10 hr, 39 min Waxing gibbous 73%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Silver Bow Creek at Montana Street, at ButteRiver gauge, Silver Bow Creek	6.5 cfs	Very low	±0	0.6 mi
Silver Bow Cr below Blacktail Cr, at ButteRiver gauge, Silver Bow Cr	25.1 cfs	Normal	+1.8 cfs	2.5 mi
Silver Bow Creek at Opportunity MTRiver gauge, Silver Bow Creek	25.8 cfs	Low	−1.4 cfs	16 mi
Willow Creek at OpportunityRiver gauge, Willow Creek	4.0 cfs	Very low	−0.3 cfs	16 mi
Mill Creek at OpportunityRiver gauge, Mill Creek	5.7 cfs	Normal	±0	17 mi
Silver Bow Creek at Warm Springs MTRiver gauge, Silver Bow Creek	30.5 cfs	Low	±0	18 mi
Warm Springs Creek at Warm Springs MTRiver gauge, Warm Springs Creek	46.1 cfs	Normal	+0.9 cfs	18 mi
Willow Creek near AnacondaRiver gauge, Willow Creek	1.9 cfs	Normal	±0	18 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte?

The official flood stage is 8.70 ft. The level is currently 3.95 ft below it.

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 Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 PM MDT, the water level was 4.75 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte?

The highest level on record is 7.42 ft on July 31, 2025.

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:12323233 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 45.99127, -112.52736 (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	4.75 ft	2026-10-21 00:30	Provisional
Flow	8.5 cfs	2026-10-21 00:30	Provisional
Water temperature	50 °F	2026-10-21 00:30	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Blacktail Creek above Grove Gulch, at Butte (usgs:12323233). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/blacktail-creek-above-grove-gulch-at-butte

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