Welcome to the Dungeness River Flow Status app, designed to provide a quick glance at the river’s streamflow and condition for the benefit of water managers, anglers, and recreational users along the river, as well as anyone interested in monitoring real-time flow changes.

Please note the reported flow is measured at the USGS gage at River Mile 11.8.

The Dungeness River flow rate varies within a normal range by season. Flow also varies by the hour, for example, when the river rises quickly during a rainstorm. Rainfall and snowmelt have the most influence on streamflow, while tributary inflows and irrigation withdrawals increase and decrease flow, respectively.

In recent decades, the average summer streamflow has decreased due to the shrinkage of glacial ice and reduced average annual snowpack in the uppermost slopes of the Dungeness River watershed. (A watershed is the land draining to a single stream.) Summer flows that are lower than historical averages can be a problem for salmon migrating upstream to spawn as well as for farmers accustomed to diverting river water for irrigation. Recommended actions listed above, for example, when summer flows are in a Low category, can help maintain healthy flows in the Dungeness River.

Please report problems with the app’s function to [email protected].

The Dungeness River Flow app transmits the flow level as measured by the USGS continuous stream gage located at Dungeness River Mile 11.8. More information about this monitoring location and available flow data/tools can be found at the Dungeness USGS gage webpage: 

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-12048000/#dataTypeId=continuous-00060-0&period=P7D&showMedian=true&compare=true

The app’s low flow category thresholds are based on WAC 173-518, the instream flow and water management rule for the Dungeness River, as well as formal agreements between the Washington State Department of Ecology and Dungeness River irrigation water right holders. The app’s flood flow category thresholds are based on flow estimates translated from NOAA’s flood-stage categories, at the National Water Prediction Service page for the upper Dungeness gage (https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/DRSW1 , click “Scale to Flood Categories” under the chart). 

For detailed water conservation recommendations, please consult these local experts:

• WSU Extension: https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/water-conservation/

• Clallam Conservation District: https://clallamcd.org/conservation-around-the-house

• Your Irrigation Manager if you live in a district or are a company shareholder

Image Credits

Dave Shreffler and Welden Clark