USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

06287000 BIGHORN RIVER NEAR ST. XAVIER, MT

LOCATION - Lat 45°19'00.85", long 107°55'08.00" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in NW 1/4 NW 1/4 NE 1/4 sec.16, T.6 S., R.31 E., Big Horn County, MT, Hydrologic Unit 10080015, on right bank 800 ft downstream from Yellowtail afterbay dam, 1,500 ft downstream from Lime Kiln Creek, 14 mi southwest of St. Xavier, and at river mile 83.9.

DRAINAGE AREA - 19,672 mi². area at site used prior to Apr. 16, 1963, 19,626 mi².

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1934 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 3,100.00 ft, referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Prior to Apr. 16, 1963, and June 13, 1964, to Mar. 31, 1965, water-stage recorder at site 1.2 mi upstream at different elevation. Apr. 1, 1965, to July 31, 1966, water-stage recorder at site 1,300 ft downstream at present elevation. Bureau of Reclamation satellite telemeter is located at the station.

REMARKS - Figures of discharge and summary statistics given herein are the sum of river flow and flow of Bighorn Canal. Some regulation occurs by 14 reservoirs in Wyoming and complete regulation by Bighorn Lake (06286400) beginning Nov. 3, 1965. Diversions for irrigation occurs upstream from the station.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 2012 to September 9, 2019.

PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - WATER TEMPERATURE: October 2012 to September 2019.

INSTRUMENTATION - Water temperature recorder was installed September 19, 2012.  The Met One probe was discontinued September 9, 2019.

REMARKS -  

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum, 19.7°C, July 31, 2017; minimum, 1.3°C, Mar. 11, 2018.