Klamath River near Seiad Valley: Level & Flow Today
River flow & level · USGS gauge 11520500 · California · drains 6,940 sq mi
Latest reading Nov 4, 7:00 AM · streamflow
The Klamath River at Seiad Valley is running 1,270 cfs, 64% of the median flow for November 4 (1,990 cfs, 88 years). Gage height is 2.24 ft, 12.8 ft below flood stage (15.0 ft). Flow is about the same as 24 hours ago.
Whitewater: Klamath River
for rafters & kayakersHappy Camp to Coon Creek
RunnableClass III+ (IV) · 17.9 mi · Put-in: Indian Creek River Access · Take-out: Coon Creek River Access
Low from 700 · too high above 8,000 cfs
Now: 1,270 cfs on this gauge. Runnable range: American Whitewater, reach 3170.
Sarah Totten to Happy Camp
RunnableClass III · 35.2 mi · Put-in: Sarah Totten Campground Put-In · Take-out: Happy Camp Take-Out
Low from 700 · too high above 8,000 cfs
Now: 1,270 cfs on this gauge. Runnable range: American Whitewater, reach 234.
This gauge does not report water temperature. Dress for the water, not the air: below 70°F a wetsuit or drysuit is recommended.
Flow on this section is natural (snowmelt and rain), not set by a dam release schedule, so check the live reading above before you go. Commercial rafting season depends on runoff. Source.
Below dams the river can rise suddenly and turn violent when releases start; stay out of tailrace areas and off the river outside scheduled windows unless you know the flow. Ranges are for experienced paddlers at the gauge shown; rapids change after floods, so scout and check for new wood. Wear a PFD, never boat alone, and follow the American Whitewater Safety Code. New to whitewater? Go with a licensed outfitter.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (13.0 ft) is 10.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (15.0 ft) is 12.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (20.0 ft) is 17.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (28.0 ft) is 25.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
About Klamath River near Seiad Valley
Over the past 12 months, daily mean flow at this gauge ranged from 994 cfs (Aug 15, 2026) to 16,000 cfs (Feb 25, 2026). USGS daily records for this gauge start in 1913; on November 4 the flow has ranged from 1,110 cfs (2003) to 6,540 cfs (1985). The river drains 6,940 square miles above this gauge. The nearest gauges we track are Rogue River at Grants Pass (40 mi north) and Rogue River near Agness (66 mi northwest). See all 10 California river gauges on the California lake & river levels page.
Klamath River near Seiad Valley fishing report & conditions
updated Nov 4, 10:34 AM ETFlow 64% of normal, flow steady — fair fall fishing day (4/10), best window 7:30 AM–9:30 AM (moon overhead near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Flow64% of normalFlow steady (+0% in 24 h)
Official California fishing info: California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Inland fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
4/10
Waning crescent · 21% lit · New moon Sun, Nov 8 · Sunrise 6:49 AM · Sunset 5:02 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead7:30 AM–9:30 AMSunrise
- Moon underfoot7:52 PM–9:52 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonrise1:32 AM–2:32 AM
- Moonset2:16 PM–3:16 PM
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayNov 4 | 4/10Fair | Major 7:30 AM–9:30 AM · 7:52 PM–9:52 PM Minor 1:32 AM–2:32 AM · 2:16 PM–3:16 PM |
|---|---|---|
| ThuNov 5 | 2/10Poor | Major 8:14 AM–10:14 AM · 8:36 PM–10:36 PM Minor 2:40 AM–3:40 AM · 2:37 PM–3:37 PM |
| FriNov 6 | 2/10Poor | Major 8:58 AM–10:58 AM · 9:20 PM–11:20 PM Minor 3:47 AM–4:47 AM · 2:58 PM–3:58 PM |
| SatNov 7 | 4/10Fair | Major 9:42 AM–11:42 AM · 10:05 PM–12:05 AM Minor 4:53 AM–5:53 AM · 3:22 PM–4:22 PM |
| SunNov 8 | 5/10Fair | Major 10:28 AM–12:28 PM · 10:52 PM–12:52 AM Minor 6:01 AM–7:01 AM · 3:49 PM–4:49 PM |
| MonNov 9 | 5/10Fair | Major 11:17 AM–1:17 PM · 11:42 PM–1:42 AM Minor 7:07 AM–8:07 AM · 4:21 PM–5:21 PM |
| TueNov 10 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:07 PM–2:07 PM Minor 8:11 AM–9:11 AM · 4:59 PM–5:59 PM |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moon overhead × sunrise +2) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 4.6 days) | 0 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 1 |
| Today | 4, rounded | 4/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 41.85, -123.23 (moon times from astronomical equations, Klamath River near Seiad Valley local time).
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge SEIC1- Action stage13 ft+10.8 ft from now
- Minor stage15 ft+12.8 ft from now
- Moderate stage20 ft+17.8 ft from now
- Major stage28 ft+25.8 ft from now
- Record crest33.75 ft1964
November 4 in history
88 years of flow records- Today1,270 cfs
- Same date last year1,580 cfs2025
- Median1,990 cfs
- Normal range1,640 cfs – 2,450 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19136,540 cfs1985
- Lowest since 19131,110 cfs2003
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 4 (today) | 1,270 | +0% |
| Tue Nov 3 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Mon Nov 2 | 1,270 | -1% |
| Sun Nov 1 | 1,280 | +1% |
| Sat Oct 31 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Fri Oct 30 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Thu Oct 29 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Wed Oct 28 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Tue Oct 27 | 1,270 | +0% |
| Mon Oct 26 | 1,270 | +1% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Applegate Lake15 mi northeast · Lake · Copper1,880.77 ft24h −0.60 ft
- Rogue River at Grants Pass40 mi north · River1,200 cfs79% of normal
- Lost Creek Lake63 mi northeast · Lake · McLeod1,779.29 ft24h −0.21 ft
- Rogue River near Agness66 mi northwest · River1,520 cfs76% of normal
- Keno Reservoir69 mi east · Lake · Keno83.91 ft24h +0.10 ft
- Galesville Reservoir69 mi north · Lake · Azalea1,810.94 ft24h −0.10 ft
Guides
All guides →- Best time to go whitewater rafting, river by riverTypical flow each month against American Whitewater’s ranges, for 40+ rafting runs.
- What river flow is best for rafting?How to read cfs and our Too low / Good / High bands before a raft trip, with live examples.
- What CFS is safe for kayaking and rafting?Live flows against American Whitewater ranges for classic Eastern runs.
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 11520500 — Klamath R Nr Seiad Valley Ca
- Location
- 41.8537, -123.2323 · California
- Drainage area
- 6,940 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1913–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Nov 4, 7:00 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Nov 4, 2026 10:34 AM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge SEIC1 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.