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Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier water level

Reservoir, Montana, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

3,186.63ft Down 2.33 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
1,994 acre‑ft
3,183 3,185 3,188

History

3,1833,1853,188ftOct 15Oct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 193,1833,1853,188ftOct 15Oct 17Oct 19
3,1803,1853,190ftSep 22Sep 28Oct 5Oct 12Oct 193,1803,1853,190ftSep 22Oct 5Oct 19
3,1803,1853,190ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20263,1803,1853,190ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
3,1753,1803,1853,190ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20263,1753,1803,1853,190ftOct 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
3,1753,1803,1853,190ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20263,1753,1803,1853,190ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The lake level at Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier reads 3,186.63 ft, about where it usually sits at this time of year.

That puts it 0.41 ft below the median of 3,187.04 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 3,187.36 ft (−0.73 ft).

It is still going down, by 2.33 ft over the past week. The 30-day range is 3,177.04 ft – 3,191.64 ft.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
3,187.04 ft0.41 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
3,181.44 ft – 3,188.92 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year
3,187.36 ft−0.73 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
3,177.04 ft – 3,191.64 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
3,177.04 ft – 3,191.96 ft

Boating and fishing at Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier

A lake in its usual range is what most ramps, docks and swimming areas are built for.

Conditions at the shore change with the level, so check with the agency that runs the lake before a trip.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 69° 44° – Wind 10 mph
21 Wed 71° 40° – Wind 4 mph
22 Thu 74° 49° – Wind 7 mph
23 Fri 76° 46° – Wind 31 mph
24 Sat 55° 41° 0.04 in, 85% Wind 15 mph
25 Sun 50° 34° – Wind 9 mph
26 Mon 44° 32° 0.01 in Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:36 AM Sunset 06:18 PM Daylight 10 hr, 41 min Waxing gibbous 75%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Bighorn R below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam near St. XavierRiver gauge, Bighorn R 1,600 cfs Low +10.0 cfs 0.0 mi
Bighorn Lake YellowtailReservoir 3,626.40 ft Normal 2.0 mi
Bighorn River at bridge, at St. XavierRiver gauge, Bighorn River 1,650 cfs Very low −70.0 cfs 13 mi
Bighorn River at Two Leggins Bridge, near HardinRiver gauge, Bighorn River 1,740 cfs Very low −40.0 cfs 26 mi
Little Bighorn River at State Line near Wyola MTRiver gauge, Little Bighorn River 71.2 cfs Low ±0 26 mi
Little Bighorn River near Crow Agency MTRiver gauge, Little Bighorn River 113 cfs Low −2.0 cfs 28 mi
Agency Canal Tailwaste near Hardin MTCanal gauge, Agency Canal Tailwaste 2.9 cfs Normal −0.8 cfs 33 mi
Little Bighorn River near Hardin MTRiver gauge, Little Bighorn River 2.65 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 34 mi

Questions and answers

How does Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier compare with last year?

It is 0.73 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3,187.36 ft.

What is a normal level for Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3,187.04 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3,181.44 ft and 3,188.92 ft, based on 36 years of records.

Is Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier really 3,186.63 ft deep?

No. 3,186.63 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier today?

On Oct 19, 2026, the surface elevation was 3,186.63 ft. Down 2.33 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier rising or falling?

Down 2.33 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes a new reading once a day. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Station code
usbr:276 (Agency page)
Coordinates
45.31670, -107.91800 (WGS84)
Update interval
once a day
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 3,186.63 ft 2026-10-19 06:00 Provisional
Water stored 1,994 acre‑ft 2026-10-19 06:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Bighorn River and BIA Canal near St. Xavier (usbr:276). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/bighorn-river-and-bia-canal-near-st-xavier

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