USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

06120500 MUSSELSHELL RIVER AT HARLOWTON, MT

LOCATION - Lat 46°25'43.68", long 109°50'28.30" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in SW 1/4 NW 1/4 NW 1/4 sec.27, T.8 N., R.15 E., Wheatland County, MT, Hydrologic Unit 10040201, on right bank, downstream of bridge on U.S. Highway 191, 1.0 mi southwest of Harlowton, 9.6 mi upstream from American Fork, and at river mile 327.8.

DRAINAGE AREA - 1,108 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - Water Supply Paper (WSP) 1309: 1912, 1915 (maximum discharge), 1918, 1925. WSP 1729: Drainage area. The maximum gage height affected by backwater for water year 2009 was removed on September 7, 2021, based on reanalysis of data.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - July 1907 to November 1929; March 1930 to December 1932; April to August 1933; February 1934 to current year, seasonal record for water year 2007. Monthly discharge only for some periods, published in Water Supply Paper (WSP) 1309.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 4,171.46 ft, referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (levels by Morrison and Maierle, Inc.). Prior to Dec. 8, 1937, nonrecording gages at site 1.2 mi downstream at different elevations. Dec. 8, 1937 to Aug. 26, 1955, nonrecording gage at previous bridge 50 ft downstream at elevation 2.0 ft higher. Aug. 27, 1955 to Apr. 9, 2003, water-stage recorder 350 ft downstream at same elevation.

REMARKS - Some regulation occurs by Bair and Martinsdale Reservoirs. Numerous diversions for irrigation occur upstream from station.