Nehalem River near Foss, OR
Oregon Coast · USGS gauge 14301000 · Updated Oct 24, 2:37 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional
Reading time: Oct 24, 2:15 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)
- 196–1,280 cfs
- Median for this date
- 496 cfs
- 7-day low / high
- 90.4 / 96.6 cfs
Plain-language explanation
Nehalem River near Foss is flowing at 90.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 24, 2:15 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 88 years of record (1939–2026).
The middle half of those historical flows runs from 196 to 1,280 cfs, with a median of 496 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 107 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 2,928 cfs.
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 90.4 to 96.6 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 Nehalem River near Foss fishable today?
Flowcast's status for the Nehalem River near Foss is “Too low”: flow is 90.4 cfs, well below normal for the date, at the 5th percentile for this date (as of Oct 24, 2:15 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 Nehalem River near Foss?
90.4 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 14301000 as of Oct 24, 2:15 PM PDT, provisional data.
Is the Nehalem River near Foss too high or too low right now?
It is on the low side: below the typical range for the date (196 to 1,280 cfs).
Is the Nehalem River near Foss rising or falling?
Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (+0.0%).
What is a normal flow for the Nehalem River near Foss in October?
For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 496 cfs and the middle half of days runs 196 to 1,280 cfs, over 88 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 | 93.2 | 10th | Fishable/Floatable |
| Mon Oct 19 | 92.7 | 9th | Too low |
| Tue Oct 20 | 92.0 | 8th | Too low |
| Wed Oct 21 | 91.8 | 7th | Too low |
| Thu Oct 22 | 90.7 | 6th | Too low |
| Fri Oct 23 | 90.4 | 6th | Too low |
| Sat Oct 24 (so far) | 90.4 | 5th | 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 88 years of USGS daily data (1939–2026).
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Official resources
- USGS site page for gauge 14301000 (USGS: live readings, history, station details)
- Oregon fishing regulations (ODFW)
- Northwest Zone regulations (ODFW)
- In-season Oregon regulation updates (ODFW)
- ODFW Recreation Report (fishing reports)
- Northwest Zone fishing report (ODFW)
- Oregon angling zones and fish district contacts (ODFW)
Agency notices
ODFW's in-season regulation updates page currently mentions “Nehalem River” 5 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-14301000
- USGS name
- Nehalem River Near Foss, Or
- Drainage area
- 667 sq mi
- Location
- 45.7040, -123.7554
- Record in this analysis
- 1939–2026
Typical uses
Notes: Coastal, rain-driven river; rises and falls relatively quickly. (Hand-written general note, not from USGS data.)
Nearby gauges
- Wilson River near Tillamook, OR Too low 60.9 cfs · about 16 mi away (straight line)
- Nestucca River near Beaver, OR Too low 66.8 cfs · about 31 mi away (straight line)
- Cowlitz River at Castle Rock, WA Fishable/Floatable 4,150 cfs · about 56 mi away (straight line)
- Lewis River at Ariel, WA Fishable/Floatable 2,550 cfs · about 60 mi away (straight line)
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