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SwedenSouth Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow water level
River gauge, South Fork McKenzie River, Oregon, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 175 cfs
- Water temperature
- 46 °F
History
What this means
Low water at South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow: the gauge reads 3.27 ft, far below normal for mid-October.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 3.26 ft – 3.28 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 46 °F.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 20.06 ftDecember 22, 1964
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.06 ft | December 22, 1964 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the South Fork McKenzie River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork McKenzie River near RainbowRiver gauge, South Fork McKenzie River | 346 cfs | Low | ±0 | 6 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar Dam Tailwater near RainbowRiver gauge, Cougar Dam Tailwater | 1,251.62 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 5.9 mi |
| McKenzie River above South Fork, near RainbowRiver gauge, McKenzie River | 8.03 ft | Very low | ±0 | 8 mi |
| Blue River at Blue RiverRiver gauge, Blue River | 184 cfs | Low | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Nf Quartz Creek near Blue RiverRiver gauge, Nf Quartz Creek | 1.0 cfs | Low | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Lookout Creek near Blue RiverRiver gauge, Lookout Creek | 7.7 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Blue River below Tidbits Creek, near Blue RiverRiver gauge, Blue River | 1.75 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 12 mi |
| McKenzie River near VidaRiver gauge, McKenzie River | 0.87 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 14 mi |
| McKenzie River below Trail Branch Dam near Belknap SpringsRiver gauge, McKenzie River | 536 cfs | Very low | −6.0 cfs | 17 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 South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:40 PM PDT, the water level was 3.27 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow normal?
Very 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 South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow?
The highest level on record is 20.06 ft on December 22, 1964.
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.
Where does this data come from?
The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:14159200(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.04707, -122.21782(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 | 3.27 ft | 2026-10-20 19:40 | Provisional |
| Flow | 175 cfs | 2026-10-20 19:40 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 46 °F | 2026-10-20 19:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Lake near Rainbow (usgs:14159200). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/oregon/south-fork-mckenzie-river-above-cougar-lake-near-rainbow
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