John Day River at McDonald Ferry, OR
Eastern Oregon · USGS gauge 14048000 · Updated Oct 24, 2:37 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional
Reading time: Oct 24, 1:45 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
- 10th percentile
- Typical range (25th–75th)
- 270–443 cfs
- Median for this date
- 341 cfs
- 7-day low / high
- 185 / 215 cfs
Plain-language explanation
John Day River at McDonald Ferry is flowing at 210 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT. That is among the lowest flows on record for this time of year: lower than about 90% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 121 years of record (1904–2026).
The middle half of those historical flows runs from 270 to 443 cfs, with a median of 341 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 211 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 567 cfs.
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 185 to 215 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 John Day River at McDonald Ferry fishable today?
Flowcast's status for the John Day River at McDonald Ferry is “Too low”: flow is 210 cfs, well below normal for the date, at the 10th percentile for this date (as of Oct 24, 1:45 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 John Day River at McDonald Ferry?
210 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 14048000 as of Oct 24, 1:45 PM PDT, provisional data.
Is the John Day River at McDonald Ferry too high or too low right now?
It is on the low side: below the typical range for the date (270 to 443 cfs).
Is the John Day River at McDonald Ferry rising or falling?
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%).
What is a normal flow for the John Day River at McDonald Ferry in October?
For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 341 cfs and the middle half of days runs 270 to 443 cfs, over 121 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 | 190 | 12th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Mon Oct 19 | 197 | 12th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Tue Oct 20 | 200 | 12th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Wed Oct 21 | 205 | 11th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Thu Oct 22 | 206 | 10th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Fri Oct 23 | 210 | 11th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Sat Oct 24 (so far) | 210 | 10th | 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 121 years of USGS daily data (1904–2026).
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Official resources
- USGS site page for gauge 14048000 (USGS: live readings, history, station details)
- Oregon fishing regulations (ODFW)
- Northeast Zone regulations (ODFW)
- In-season Oregon regulation updates (ODFW)
- ODFW Recreation Report (fishing reports)
- Northeast Zone fishing report (ODFW)
- Oregon angling zones and fish district contacts (ODFW)
Agency notices
ODFW's in-season regulation updates page currently mentions “John Day River” 3 times. Read the section for your stretch before you go.
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-14048000
- USGS name
- John Day River At Mcdonald Ferry, Or
- Drainage area
- 7,580 sq mi
- Location
- 45.5876, -120.4095
- Record in this analysis
- 1904–2026
Typical uses
Notes: Largely undammed; seasonal runoff drives most floating opportunities. (Hand-written general note, not from USGS data.)
Nearby gauges
- Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, OR Fishable/Floatable 4,350 cfs · about 24 mi away (straight line)
- Klickitat River near Pitt, WA Fishable/Floatable 596 cfs · about 40 mi away (straight line)
- White Salmon River near Underwood, WA Too low 399 cfs · about 55 mi away (straight line)
- Hood River at Tucker Bridge, near Hood River, OR Too low 234 cfs · about 55 mi away (straight line)
- Umatilla River near Umatilla, OR Fishable/Floatable 210 cfs · about 57 mi away (straight line)
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