Boise River level at Boise
Idaho · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 13206000 — BOISE RIVER AT GLENWOOD BRIDGE NR BOISE ID · NWS forecast point BIGI1
Reading taken · as of 43 min ago
Right around its normal summer float level
At 592 CFS, this gauge is inside the middle half of the 44 years USGS has recorded for this date (1982–2026), at 112% of the 530 CFS median.
Sponsor Boise River
One exclusive sponsor per river, on every gauge page for it.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Boise
National Weather Service categories for gauge BIGI1, WFO BOI. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
-
Major flood — ft · 15,000 CFS reached
-
Moderate flood 12.9 ft · 11,000 CFS
- 4,200.0 ft Water will begin seeping onto low spots on the greenbelt path next to the river especially near bridge underpasses, and onto portions of the Bethine Church River Trail.
- 4,900.0 ft Water will cover low sections of the greenbelt path and Bethine Church River Trail adjacent to the river.
- 6,500.0 ft Large sections of the greenbelt path adjacent to the river will be submerged. Minor flooding may affect portions of Eagle Island.
- 7,000.0 ft Large sections of the greenbelt path adjacent to the river will be submerged. Erosion of river banks will also become a significant problem. Debris in the river including small trees and logs may begin piling up at bridge crossings. Minor flooding will be observed on sections of Eagle Island and in other low spots near the river. Minor flooding will spread downstream to low areas near the river in Star and Caldwell.
- 8,500.0 ft Large sections of the green belt will be submerged and severe bank erosion will occur. Flooding will occur in low areas close to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle and Caldwell, but the water should remain below the level of most residential areas. Water will begin seeping into the Garden City warehouse district between 45th and 47th streets.
- 8,900.0 ft Large sections of the green belt will be submerged and severe bank erosion will occur. Flooding will occur in low areas close to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle and Caldwell. Some residential areas near Eagle Island State Park will become inundated. Water will seep into the Garden City warehouse district between 45th and 47th streets. Flooding will impact portions of Marianne Williams Park in east Boise.
- 9,500.0 ft Flooding of low areas near the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell will occur. Debris in the river will collect on bridges crossing the river. Water will cover portions of Warm Springs Golf Course in east Boise. The water may affect some residential property near the river, but should stay below the level of most residential structures. The river will spill over its banks between 45th and 47th Street in Garden City into the warehouse district.
- 11,000.0 ft Flooding over Park Center Boulevard in southeast Boise near the Park Center Pond will occur. Flooding will occur in Municiple Park. Flooding near the river will occur in low areas of Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star and Caldwell. Portions of Eagle Island will be submerged with flooding of residential property in low lying areas near the river likely. The water should remain below the level of most residential structures, but access in and out of some neighborhoods will be limited by high water.
- 13,000.0 ft Flooding will occur in low areas and parkland adjacent to the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell. Flooding of low lying residential streets in areas adjacent to the river is likely, especially on portions of Eagle Island. Debris damming on bridges crossing the river will occur and may cause water to spill over the road surfaces leading up to the bridge. Park Center Boulevard in southeast Boise will be flooded near the Park Center Pond.
- 16,600.0 ft Major flooding will occur near the river in Boise, Garden City, Eagle, Star, and Caldwell. Some residential areas in low lying areas near the river will be flooded with water entering some houses. A flood of this magnitude has not occurred on the Boise River since 1943. Most of the area within the 100 year flood plain, including many city parks near the river, will be underwater. Debris piling up on bridge crossings will cause additional flood damage.
-
Minor flood 10.1 ft · 7,000 CFS
-
Action 9.7 ft · 6,500 CFS
- Right now 3.97 ft
NWS forecast: 0.58 ft by .
Flow history at Boise
Daily values from USGS 13206000, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for BIGI1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Boise
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.93 ft | 9,590 CFS | Jun 6, 2017 |
| 11.54 ft | 9,840 CFS | Jun 13, 1983 |
| 11.10 ft | 8,350 CFS | May 31, 1998 |
| 10.93 ft | 8,310 CFS | May 5, 2012 |
| 10.65 ft | 7,440 CFS | Apr 30, 2006 |
| 10.61 ft | 8,030 CFS | Jun 7, 1986 |
| 10.56 ft | 7,270 CFS | May 20, 2008 |
| 10.54 ft | 7,630 CFS | Jun 29, 1982 |
| 10.52 ft | 7,300 CFS | Mar 27, 1997 |
| 10.47 ft | 7,564 CFS | Jun 6, 1983 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Boise River at Boise
In Idaho — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Barber Park to Ann Morrison; only runs in a narrow window.
Boise River at Boise — common questions
3 questions
Does rain upstream change Boise River at Boise quickly?
Yes. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Boise River at Boise high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late September here is 530 CFS, from 44 years of record (1982–2026). Today sits inside the middle half of those years, at 112% of the median. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 13206000 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for BIGI1 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.