Cowlitz River at Packwood, WA
Southwest Washington · USGS gauge 14226500 · Updated Oct 24, 2:37 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional
All 2 Cowlitz River gauges in Washington
Reading time: Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT · Provisional data
Flow is far below normal for the date. Expect shallow riffles and slower water; some stretches may be hard to float and fish can be stressed by low flows. Check local reports for the specific stretch.
- Vs. normal for this date
- 5th percentile
- Typical range (25th–75th)
- 369–1,120 cfs
- Median for this date
- 578 cfs
- 7-day low / high
- 242 / 323 cfs
Plain-language explanation
Cowlitz River at Packwood is flowing at 242 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT. That is among the lowest flows on record for this time of year: lower than about 95% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 105 years of record (1911–2026).
The middle half of those historical flows runs from 369 to 1,120 cfs, with a median of 578 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 270 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 1,998 cfs.
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (-1.6%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 242 to 323 cfs.
Why this status: Flow is at or below the seasonal 10th percentile and in the lower 40% of all days on record.
Quick answers
Is the Cowlitz River at Packwood fishable today?
Flowcast's status for the Cowlitz River at Packwood is “Too low”: flow is 242 cfs, well below normal for the date, at the 5th percentile for this date (as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT). That describes flow only. It says nothing about water clarity, temperature, fish activity, access or fishing regulations.
What is the current flow of the Cowlitz River at Packwood?
242 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 14226500 as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT, provisional data.
Is the Cowlitz River at Packwood too high or too low right now?
It is on the low side: below the typical range for the date (369 to 1,120 cfs).
Is the Cowlitz River at Packwood rising or falling?
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (-1.6%).
What is a normal flow for the Cowlitz River at Packwood in October?
For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 578 cfs and the middle half of days runs 369 to 1,120 cfs, over 105 years of USGS record.
7-day trend
Hourly flow in cfs, Pacific time. The shaded band is the typical range (25th–75th percentile) for this date, shown when it falls within the chart.
| Day (Pacific) | Mean cfs | Percentile | Status that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 18 | 270 | 12th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Mon Oct 19 | 267 | 10th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Tue Oct 20 | 265 | 9th | Too low |
| Wed Oct 21 | 270 | 11th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Thu Oct 22 | 272 | 11th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Fri Oct 23 | 263 | 9th | Too low |
| Sat Oct 24 (so far) | 262 | 8th | Too low |
Seasonal context
Shaded band: 10th–90th percentile of daily flows through the year; dashed line: median. Log scale. Dot: today's flow. Based on 105 years of USGS daily data (1911–2026).
Guide, outfitter or fly shop on this river? List your service on Flowcast (free early listings, launching).
Official resources
- USGS site page for gauge 14226500 (USGS: live readings, history, station details)
- Washington fishing regulations (WDFW)
- Emergency fishing rule changes (WDFW)
- WDFW fishing and stocking reports
- Southwest Washington fishing reports (WDFW)
Links go to the agencies' own websites and were checked as working. Flowcast does not summarize fishing or boating rules: regulations and closures change, and the agency pages are the authority.
About this gauge
- USGS site
- USGS-14226500
- USGS name
- Cowlitz River At Packwood, Wa
- Drainage area
- 287 sq mi
- Location
- 46.6129, -121.6792
- Record in this analysis
- 1911–2026
Typical uses
Notes: Upper Cowlitz, upstream of the large Cowlitz dams. (Hand-written general note, not from USGS data.)
Nearby gauges
- Nisqually River near National, WA Too low 133 cfs · about 21 mi away (straight line)
- Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA Too low 757 cfs · about 51 mi away (straight line)
- Green River near Auburn, WA Fishable/Floatable 419 cfs · about 54 mi away (straight line)
- Cedar River near Landsburg, WA Fishable/Floatable 359 cfs · about 55 mi away (straight line)
- Toutle River at Tower Road, near Silver Lake, WA Fishable/Floatable 469 cfs · about 59 mi away (straight line)
- Yakima River at Umtanum, WA Fishable/Floatable 647 cfs · about 59 mi away (straight line)
Browse this region
Questions about what the status means? How to read a status · FAQ.