Willamette River at Portland — Streamflow Note

Current Status (as of 2026-07-07): 5,300 ft³/s — 35% below 5-year median

The Willamette River at Portland is running significantly low. Current discharge of 5,300 ft³/s represents a substantial shortfall against the 5-year median of 8,210 ft³/s. The deficit is consistent across all comparison timeframes:

• Week-over-week: Down 34.9% from 8,140 ft³/s
• Month-over-month: Down 51.4% from 10,900 ft³/s (June levels)
• Year-over-year: Down 32.8% from 7,890 ft³/s (July 2025)

Interpretation: The river is in a sustained low-flow phase. The month-to-month decline of 51% indicates rapid drawdown from late spring/early summer conditions. While the year-over-year comparison shows similar conditions to last July, the consistency of the deficit across all windows suggests structural seasonal low flow rather than a temporary anomaly.

Implications: This discharge level is typical of late summer baseflow conditions in the Willamette-Columbia basin, but arriving in early July signals either earlier-than-normal snowmelt depletion, reduced precipitation, or both. Monitor for potential impacts on water supply, irrigation availability, and ecological flow requirements if levels continue to decline.