Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenKootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT water level
River gauge, Kootenai River, Montana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 4,570 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 17.89 ft by Wednesday, October 28 at 05:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 09:09 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT, where the gauge shows 18.04 ft.
It is 9.46 ft below the flood stage of 27.50 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.18 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 17.89 ft by Wednesday, October 28 at 05:00 AM. There is still 9.46 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 17.85 ft – 18.05 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 28.50 ftJune 18, 2006
- Forecast peak
- 17.97 ftMonday, October 19 at 11:00 PM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 27.50 ft.
What happens at each level
- 27.50 ft
- Some home owners living along the banks of the Kootenai River will have flooding to sections of their property.
- 18.04 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28.50 ft | June 18, 2006 |
| 2 | 27.61 ft | July 3, 2012 |
| 3 | 27.50 ft | August 5, 1974 |
| 4 | 26.49 ft | June 6, 1981 |
| 5 | 26.46 ft | November 29, 1976 |
| 6 | 26.28 ft | July 1, 2002 |
| 7 | 24.15 ft | December 14, 2017 |
| 8 | 24.15 ft | December 17, 2016 |
| 9 | 23.85 ft | December 11, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Kootenai River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kootenai River at LeoniaRiver gauge, Kootenai River | 10.53 ft | Low | +0.19 ft | 37 mi |
| Kootenai River at Bonners FerryRiver gauge, Kootenai River | 45.33 ft | Low | +0.10 ft | 50 mi |
| Kootenai River at PorthillRiver gauge, Kootenai River | 43.97 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 68 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher River near Libby MTRiver gauge, Fisher River | 2.76 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 3.1 mi |
| Libby Wetland Site below Schrieber Lake near LibbyRiver gauge, Libby Wetland Site | 0.6 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Yaak River near Troy MTRiver gauge, Yaak River | 2.88 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 32 mi |
| Tobacco River at EurekaRiver gauge, Tobacco River | 79.1 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 35 mi |
| Clark Fork River below Cabinet Gorge DamRiver gauge, Clark Fork River | 8,860 cfs | Normal | +2,970 cfs | 41 mi |
| Lightning Creek at Clark ForkRiver gauge, Lightning Creek | 7.77 ft | Lowest on record | −0.04 ft | 43 mi |
| Kootenai River Bel Moyie River near Bonners FerryRiver gauge, Kootenai River Bel Moyie River | 5,220 cfs | Normal | +260 cfs | 45 mi |
| Moyie River at EastportRiver gauge, Moyie River | 3.30 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 57 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT?
The official flood stage is 27.50 ft. The level is currently 9.46 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 Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:00 AM PDT, the water level was 18.04 ft. Up 0.18 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT rising or falling?
Up 0.18 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT?
The highest level on record is 28.50 ft on June 18, 2006.
Is Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 17.89 ft by Wednesday, October 28 at 05:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:12301933(Agency page)- Coordinates
48.40066, -115.31872(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- 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 | 18.04 ft | 2026-10-20 09:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 4,570 cfs | 2026-10-20 09:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kootenai River below Libby Dam near Libby MT (usgs:12301933). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/kootenai-river-below-libby-dam-near-libby-mt
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