USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
06294500 BIGHORN RIVER ABOVE TULLOCK CREEK, NEAR BIGHORN, MT
LOCATION - Lat 46°07'28.10", long 107°28'07.65" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in SE 1/4 SE 1/4 NE 1/4 sec.03, T.4 N., R.34 E., Treasure County, MT, Hydrologic Unit 10080015, on right bank 1.9 mi upstream from Tullock Creek, 3.6 mi southwest of Bighorn, 4.5 mi southeast of Custer, and at river mile 3.0.
DRAINAGE AREA - 22,419 mi². Area at site used Oct. 7, 1955, to Sept. 30, 1981, 22,885 mi².
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1981 to current year. Previously published as "06294700 Bighorn River at Bighorn, MT" from 1956-81, and as "06294700 Bighorn River near Custer" from 1945-55. Flows are equivalent at all sites.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 2,700 ft, referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988. May 11, 1945 to Dec. 6, 1945, nonrecording gage, and Dec. 7, 1945 to Oct. 6, 1955, water-stage recorder located 1.7 mi upstream at different elevation. Oct. 7, 1955 to Sept. 30, 1981, located at site 2.3 mi downstream at different elevation.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum peak flow, 59,200 ft³/s, May 20, 1978, gage height, 14.15 ft. Maximum peak stage, 14.21 ft, April 2, 1965, result of ice jam.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD PRIOR TO REGULATION - (1945-1961) Annual mean discharge, 3,358 ft³/s, Highest annual mean discharge, 5,051 ft³/s, 1947 Lowest annual mean discharge, 1,623 ft³/s, 1961, Highest daily mean discharge, 25,700 ft³/s, Jun 23, 1947, Lowest Daily mean discharge, 462 ft³/s, May 12, 1962, Annual seven-day minimum, 528 ft³/s, May 6, 1961, Maximum peak discharge, 26,200 ft³/s, Jun 24, 1947, Maximum peak stage, 10.65 ft, May 24, 1947,Annual runoff 2,578,000 ac-ft.