USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

06090800 MISSOURI RIVER AT FORT BENTON, MT

LOCATION - Lat 47°49'00.88", long 110°39'58.11" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in NW 1/4 SE 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.23, T.24 N., R.8 E., Chouteau County, MT, Hydrologic Unit 10030102, on left bank at downstream side of Old Fort Benton Bridge at Fort Benton, 3.8 mi upstream from Shonkin Creek, and at river mile 2,073.2.

DRAINAGE AREA - 24,297 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 746: 1932. WSP 1146: 1891-1907; 1908, maximum discharge (M); 1909-18; 1937-38. WSP 1209: 1948, peak discharge. WSP 1309: 1929 (M). WSP 1629: Drainage area. See also PERIOD OF RECORD.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1890 to current year. Records for June 1881 to September 1890, published in Water Supply Paper (WSP) 546 and 761, have been found to be unreliable and should not be used.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 2,614.05 ft, referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. Prior to Oct. 11, 1920, nonrecording gages, and Oct. 11, 1920, to Apr. 25, 1924, water-stage recorder, all at present site at elevation 1.00 ft higher. U.S. Geological Survey satellite telemeter is located at the station.

REMARKS - Flow is regulated by 18 smaller irrigation reservoirs and powerplants, Clark Canyon Reservoir (station number 06015300), and Canyon Ferry Lake (station number 06058500). Numerous diversions for irrigation occur upstream from station. Extreme diurnal fluctuation caused by powerplant at Morony Dam.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum peak flow from rating curve extended above 63,000 ft³/s. Maximum peak stage observed from present datum. Instantaneous low flow gage height, -0.05 ft.