Cariboo Natural Resource Region Low Streamflow Report
This report contains low streamflow information for the Cariboo Natural Resource Region. Please see the B.C. Drought Portal for information about provincial conditions. Data is provided as is and may be unverified and uncorrected. Users assume all responsibility for use and interpretation of data within.
Data is sourced from the Water Survey of Canada and B.C. Real-time Data, and was analyzed by the BC River Forecast Centre for the Cariboo Natural Resource Region. Questions regarding any part of this product can be sent to the BC River Forecast Centre.
This report was generated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
7 Day Average Streamflow Percentiles
7 Day average streamflow percentiles compare current stream flows (averaged over the last seven days) to the same seven day period in a site’s historic record. Streamflows are averaged over seven days to minimize the impact of short term fluctuations, and gives a better representation of the overall trend in streamflow. Percentiles give an indication of how likely a seven day streamflow value is; for example, the 50th percentile represents normal conditions, where a streamflow percentile of 10 indicates that this value has occurred only 10% of the time within the history of the site. Data is sourced from real-time and historic Water Survey of Canada data.
In general, a 7 day average streamflow value of:
- The highest ever measured for the day of year is considered “Highest Recorded”
- Greater than the 90th percentile is considered “Much Above Normal”
- Between 75th percentile and 90th percentile is considered “Above Normal”
- Between 30th and 75th percentiles is considered “Drought Level 0”
- Between the 20th and 30th percentile is considered “Drought Level 1”
- Between the 10th and 20th percentile is considered “Drought Level 2”
- Between the 5th and 10th percentile is considered “Drought Level 3”
- Between the 3rd and 5th percentile is considered “Drought Level 4”
- Less than the 2nd percentile is considered “Drought Level 5”
- The lowest ever measured for the day of year is considered “Lowest Recorded”
The below map shows percentiles using both a rolling average over the last seven days of discharge as well as mean discharge over the last 24 hours.
Map data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
Stations Much Below Normal - Seven Day Average Streamflow Percentiles
The table below lists all stations with 7 day discharge percentiles below their 10th percentile. If a location is not listed here there are no immediate low streamflow concerns (i.e., 7 day discharge is > 10th percentile).
Regulation Status refers to whether flows are natural or regulated by human activities such as dams; this (as well as the Basin Area) were determined by the Water Survey of Canada.
Data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.| Station Name | ID | Regulation Status | Basin Area (km2) | Latest 7-Day Discharge (m3/s) | Percentile - 7 Day Discharge | Percentile Category - 7 Day Discharge | Last 24 hour Discharge (m3/s) | Percentile - Last 24 Hour Discharge | Percentile Category - Last 24 Hour Discharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long-Term Mean Annual Discharge (% LT MAD)
Environmental flow needs for fish during the summer will range from juvenile rearing flows near 10-20% (preferred) Long-Term Mean Annual Discharge (LT MAD) to adult salmon/char passage flows (>20% LT MAD) required prior to spawning. Sub-standard flows (<10% LT MAD) can affect fish populations by reducing the area and quality of riffle habitats that generate fish food and aeration. Flows nearing 5% LT MAD are considered sub-optimal for fish rearing and migration, indicate a degradation of instream habitat and may require restrictions on water use. A map of realtime streamflow data can be accessed at the BC River Forecast Centre website. LT MAD values were calculated by dividing the 7 day mean discharge by the mean annual discharge (MAD) calculated from historic data. MAD values were calculated for stations with at least 5 years of data in the historic record only from years with complete data using the R package fasstr.
Map data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
Table of Stations Below 20% LT MAD
Any stations with LT MAD values of less than or equal to 20% LT MAD are shown in the table below; sites below 5% MAD and 10% MAD are highlighted. The report shows conditions as of today.
Regulation Status refers to whether flows are natural or regulated by human activities such as dams; this (as well as the Basin Area) were determined by the Water Survey of Canada.
Data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
| Station Name | ID | Regulation Status | Basin Area (km2) | MAD (m3/s) | Latest 7 Day Discharge (m3/s) | % MAD | Last 24 hour Discharge (m3/s) | % MAD (24 hour Q) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN JOSE RIVER ABOVE BORLAND CREEK | 08MC040 | Regulated | 1990 | 1.68 | 0.07 | 4.37 | 0.12 | 7.04 |
| BAKER CREEK AT QUESNEL | 08KE016 | Natural | 1550 | 5.26 | 0.71 | 13.58 | 0.62 | 11.71 |
| MCKINLEY CREEK BELOW OUTLET OF MCKINLEY LAKE | 08KH020 | Regulated | 431 | 5.13 | 0.70 | 13.64 | 0.74 | 14.45 |
| SHERIDAN CREEK ABOVE MCLEESE LAKE | 08MC045 | Natural | 99 | 0.25 | 0.04 | 15.67 | 0.03 | 12.51 |
| MOFFAT CREEK NEAR HORSEFLY | 08KH019 | Natural | 548 | 3.47 | 0.59 | 16.92 | 0.59 | 16.98 |
| HORSEFLY RIVER ABOVE QUESNEL LAKE | 08KH031 | Natural | NA | 37.04 | 7.25 | 19.58 | 6.66 | 17.97 |
| LITTLE SWIFT RIVER AT THE MOUTH | 08KE024 | Natural | 127 | 2.82 | 0.56 | 19.74 | 0.51 | 17.96 |
| BRIDGE CREEK BELOW DEKA CREEK | 08LA027 | Natural | NA | 1.31 | 0.26 | 19.88 | 0.23 | 17.9 |
Maximum Daily Water Temperature
The recommended mean weekly maximum temperature (which is the mean of the max daily temperatures from the last seven days) for the protection of all fish species should not exceed 20 degrees C and the maximum daily temperature should not exceed 23degrees C. Reaching either one of these thresholds may trigger fisheries closures and water use restrictions within the affected watersheds. Only a small subset of stations from the Water Survey of Canada collect temperature data in addition to streamflow data; thus the number of sites shown here is much smaller than for streamflow. Some provincially run hydrometric stations may also collect temperature data and may be shown.
Map data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
Table of Stations: 7 Day Maximum Daily Temperature above 20degC
The table below shows stations with a 7-day maximum daily temperature (i.e., the max daily temperature from the past 7 days) above 20degC. Also shown are the days from the past week in which the maximum daily temperature exceeded either 20degC or 23degC (critical thresholds for fish health). If no sites are present, all sites with water temperature data show 7-day maximum daily temperatures below 20degC.
Regulation Status refers to whether flows are natural or regulated by human activities such as dams; this (as well as the Basin Area) were determined by the Water Survey of Canada.
Data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
| Station Name | ID | Regulation Status | Basin Area (km2) | Mean Max Daily Temp (last 7 days; deg C) | Max temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Min temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Mean temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Dates above 20 degC in last 7 days | Dates above 23 degC in last 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hydrometric Statistical Summary for All WSC Stations
The following table contains all of the drought-relevant statistics for all stations within the region.
These statistics include:
- Last 24 hour Discharge: Mean discharge taken over the last 24 hours (in m3/s)
- Percentile - Last 24 Hour Discharge: Percentile of the average discharge over the last 24 hours
- Latest 7 Day Discharge: Rolling 7-day average of daily mean discharge for today’s date. All 7 day means are calculated based on the past 7 days.
- Percentile - 7 Day Discharge: Percentile of the rolling 7 day average of daily mean discharge measurements to the 7 day rolling mean of the historical daily values.
- Historic Mean 7 Day Discharge: Value of the rolling 7-day averaged daily mean discharge value for today’s date, calculated using the station’s historic data (in m3/s).
- Percent of Daily Mean 7 Day Discharge: Percent of the 7 Day Discharge for today’s date compared to the mean 7 Day Discharge value for today’s date within the historic record of the station (i.e., Latest 7 Day Discharge/Historic Mean 7 Day Discharge *100)
- Historic Median 7 Day Discharge: Value of the rolling 7-day averaged daily median discharge value for today’s date, calculated using the station’s historic data (in m3/s).
- Percent of Daily Median 7 Day Discharge: Percent of the 7 Day Discharge for today’s date compared to the median 7 Day Discharge value for today’s date within the historic record of the station (i.e., Latest 7 Day Discharge/Historic Median 7 Day Discharge *100).
- Historic Min 7 Day Discharge: The minimum 7 day averaged mean daily discharge value for today’s date within the historic record (in m3/s).
- MAD (m3/s) and % MAD: Flow needs during the summer will range from juvenile rearing flows near 10-20% (preferred) MAD to adult salmon/char passage flows (>20% MAD) required prior to spawning. Sub-standard flows (<10% MAD) can affect fish populations by reducing the area and quality of riffle habitats that generate fish food and aeration. Flows nearing 5% MAD are considered sub-optimal for fish rearing and migration, indicate a degradation of instream habitat and may require restrictions on water use.
- Mean Max Daily Temp (last 7 days; deg C): Mean of the max daily temperatures from the past week. Temperatures greater than 20 degrees C can indicate increased stress on fish populations.
- Max temp over last 24 hours (degC): Maximum temperature over the last 24 hours (degree C).
- Dates above 23 degC and 20 degC in last 7 days: Dates from the past week that the stream temperature has gone beyond either 20 or 23 degrees C.
Regulation Status refers to whether flows are natural or regulated by human activities such as dams; this (as well as the Basin Area) were determined by the Water Survey of Canada.
Data was updated on 09 September 2026, 04:01 AM.
| Station Name | ID | Record Length | Basin Area (km2) | Regulation Status | Last 24 hour Discharge (m3/s) | Percentile - Last 24 Hour Discharge | Percentile Category - Last 24 Hour Discharge | Latest 7 Day Discharge (m3/s) | Percentile - 7 Day Discharge | Percentile Category - 7 Day Discharge | Percent of Daily Mean 7 Day Discharge (%; Historic Mean 7 Day Discharge in m3/s) | Percent of Daily Median 7 Day Discharge (%; Historic Median 7 Day Discharge in m3/s) | Historic Min 7 Day Discharge (m3/s) | MAD (m3/s) | % MAD | MAD Category | % MAD (24 hour Q) | Mean Max Daily Temp (last 7 days; deg C) | Max temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Min temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Mean temp over last 24 hours (degC) | Dates above 23 degC in last 7 days | Dates above 20 degC in last 7 days | Drought Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEST ROAD RIVER NEAR CINEMA | 08KG001 | 73 | 12400.0 | Natural | 11.11 | 12 | 10-20th Percentile | 11.34 | 12 | 10-20th Percentile | 51 (22.32) | 70 (22.32) | 7.72 | 36.65 | 30.94 | 20 to 100% | 30.32 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| FRASER RIVER AT BIG BAR CREEK | 08MD013 | 44 | 146000.0 | Regulated | 1220.40 | 19 | 10-20th Percentile | 1218.23 | 14 | 10-20th Percentile | 74 (1636.78) | 74 (1636.78) | 977.71 | 1544.22 | 78.89 | 20 to 100% | 79.03 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| QUESNEL RIVER AT LIKELY | 08KH001 | 101 | 5970.0 | Natural | 91.81 | 16 | 10-20th Percentile | 95.13 | 15 | 10-20th Percentile | 71 (133.69) | 74 (133.69) | 63.64 | 130.05 | 73.15 | 20 to 100% | 70.60 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| SAN JOSE RIVER ABOVE BORLAND CREEK | 08MC040 | 41 | 1990.0 | Regulated | 0.12 | 33 | 30-75th Percentile | 0.07 | 15 | 10-20th Percentile | 19 (0.39) | 33 (0.39) | 0.00 | 1.68 | 4.37 | 1 to 5% | 7.04 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| HORSEFLY RIVER ABOVE QUESNEL LAKE | 08KH031 | 21 | NA | Natural | 6.66 | 11 | 10-20th Percentile | 7.25 | 16 | 10-20th Percentile | 51 (14.27) | 59 (14.27) | 5.59 | 37.04 | 19.58 | 10 to 20% | 17.97 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| QUESNEL RIVER NEAR QUESNEL | 08KH006 | 86 | 11500.0 | Natural | 161.63 | 16 | 10-20th Percentile | 169.78 | 20 | 10-20th Percentile | 72 (234.53) | 74 (234.53) | 126.71 | 239.82 | 70.79 | 20 to 100% | 67.39 | 17.99 | 17.86 | 16.43 | 17.27 | NA | NA | Drought Level 2 |
| FRASER RIVER NEAR MARGUERITE | 08MC018 | 74 | 114000.0 | Regulated | 989.96 | 24 | 20-30th Percentile | 1007.27 | 24 | 20-30th Percentile | 75 (1341.91) | 77 (1341.91) | 760.71 | 1421.53 | 70.86 | 20 to 100% | 69.64 | 17.15 | 17.18 | 16.03 | 16.66 | NA | NA | Drought Level 1 |
| LITTLE SWIFT RIVER AT THE MOUTH | 08KE024 | 54 | 127.0 | Natural | 0.51 | 21 | 20-30th Percentile | 0.56 | 25 | 20-30th Percentile | 39 (1.44) | 58 (1.44) | 0.23 | 2.82 | 19.74 | 10 to 20% | 17.96 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 1 |
| SHERIDAN CREEK ABOVE MCLEESE LAKE | 08MC045 | 31 | 99.0 | Natural | 0.03 | 18 | 10-20th Percentile | 0.04 | 29 | 20-30th Percentile | 65 (0.06) | 65 (0.06) | 0.02 | 0.25 | 15.67 | 10 to 20% | 12.51 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 1 |
| MCKINLEY CREEK BELOW OUTLET OF MCKINLEY LAKE | 08KH020 | 61 | 431.0 | Regulated | 0.74 | 28 | 20-30th Percentile | 0.70 | 30 | 20-30th Percentile | 35 (1.98) | 57 (1.98) | 0.11 | 5.13 | 13.64 | 10 to 20% | 14.45 | 18.19 | 17.88 | 15.31 | 16.57 | NA | NA | Drought Level 1 |
| BAKER CREEK AT QUESNEL | 08KE016 | 62 | 1550.0 | Natural | 0.62 | 32 | 30-75th Percentile | 0.71 | 35 | 30-75th Percentile | 35 (2.02) | 78 (2.02) | 0.15 | 5.26 | 13.58 | 10 to 20% | 11.71 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| HORSEFLY RIVER ABOVE MCKINLEY CREEK | 08KH010 | 65 | 790.0 | Natural | 6.50 | 24 | 20-30th Percentile | 7.71 | 37 | 30-75th Percentile | 65 (11.86) | 85 (11.86) | 3.11 | 19.84 | 38.87 | 20 to 100% | 32.76 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| DEAN RIVER BELOW TANSWANKET CREEK | 08FC003 | 62 | 3720.0 | Natural | 4.49 | 43 | 30-75th Percentile | 4.67 | 44 | 30-75th Percentile | 67 (6.92) | 89 (6.92) | 1.84 | 17.52 | 26.63 | 20 to 100% | 25.63 | 15.22 | 15.54 | 14.15 | 15.04 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| CHILKO RIVER AT OUTLET OF CHILKO LAKE | 08MA002 | 97 | 2130.0 | Natural | 78.75 | 56 | 30-75th Percentile | 77.68 | 44 | 30-75th Percentile | 95 (81.46) | 98 (81.46) | 54.79 | 43.13 | 180.11 | > 100% | 182.60 | 14.97 | 14.9 | 14.30 | 14.52 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| BRIDGE CREEK BELOW DEKA CREEK | 08LA027 | 27 | NA | Natural | 0.23 | 52 | 30-75th Percentile | 0.26 | 52 | 30-75th Percentile | 61 (0.43) | 109 (0.43) | 0.06 | 1.31 | 19.88 | 10 to 20% | 17.90 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| MOFFAT CREEK NEAR HORSEFLY | 08KH019 | 61 | 548.0 | Natural | 0.59 | 53 | 30-75th Percentile | 0.59 | 52 | 30-75th Percentile | 46 (1.27) | 103 (1.27) | 0.13 | 3.47 | 16.92 | 10 to 20% | 16.98 | 16.41 | 16.2 | 10.40 | 13.49 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| TASEKO RIVER AT OUTLET OF TASEKO LAKES | 08MA003 | 45 | 1520.0 | Natural | 71.57 | 79 | 76-90th Percentile | 68.70 | 67 | 30-75th Percentile | 112 (61.21) | 120 (61.21) | 38.07 | 37.43 | 183.56 | > 100% | 191.23 | 11.77 | 12.6 | 10.80 | 11.65 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| CHILKO RIVER NEAR REDSTONE | 08MA001 | 98 | 6880.0 | Natural | 181.05 | 81 | 76-90th Percentile | 173.48 | 68 | 30-75th Percentile | 110 (157.2) | 112 (157.2) | 95.79 | 88.57 | 195.88 | > 100% | 204.43 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| LINGFIELD CREEK NEAR THE MOUTH | 08MA006 | 51 | 98.8 | Natural | 0.17 | 74 | 30-75th Percentile | 0.22 | 82 | 76-90th Percentile | 154 (0.14) | 196 (0.14) | 0.02 | 0.76 | 28.45 | 20 to 100% | 21.95 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| DASH CREEK ABOVE CHURN CREEK | 08MD035 | 25 | NA | Natural | 0.43 | 96 | Much above normal (>90th Percentile) | 0.59 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 310 (0.19) | 346 (0.19) | 0.09 | 0.54 | 109.63 | > 100% | 79.63 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| HOMATHKO RIVER AT INLET TO TATLAYOKO LAKE | 08GD008 | 51 | 486.0 | Natural | 3.08 | 98 | Much above normal (>90th Percentile) | 3.35 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 203 (1.65) | 212 (1.65) | 1.03 | 1.71 | 195.91 | > 100% | 180.08 | 11.86 | 12.2 | 10.40 | 11.27 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| BIG CREEK ABOVE GROUNDHOG CREEK | 08MB006 | 51 | 1010.0 | Natural | 12.50 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 14.92 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 318 (4.69) | 343 (4.69) | 2.29 | 6.07 | 245.79 | > 100% | 205.97 | 10.69 | 11.43 | 8.67 | 10.22 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| BIG CREEK BELOW GRAVEYARD CREEK | 08MB007 | 50 | 232.0 | Natural | 5.41 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 7.57 | 100 | Highest Recorded | 297 (2.55) | 324 (2.55) | 1.31 | 2.74 | 276.04 | > 100% | 197.25 | 10.59 | 11.93 | 6.36 | 9.25 | NA | NA | Drought Level 0 |
| NAZKO RIVER ABOVE MICHELLE CREEK | 08KF001 | 31 | 3240.0 | Natural | NaN | NA | Not ranked | NaN | NA | Not ranked | NaN (2.21) | NaN (2.21) | 0.20 | 4.90 | NaN | Not ranked | NaN | 16.79 | 16.7 | 13.30 | 14.91 | NA | NA | Not ranked |
| CHILCOTIN RIVER NEAR HANCEVILLE | 08MB012 | 5 | NA | Natural | 186.02 | NA | Not ranked | 175.24 | NA | Not ranked | 108 (161.54) | 111 (161.54) | 135.14 | 114.41 | 153.18 | > 100% | 162.59 | 15.2 | 15.3 | 13.80 | 14.48 | NA | NA | Not ranked |