Clearwater River at Spalding, ID
River level and flood forecast · Nez Perce County
The river is 14.8 ft below flood stage (18 ft).
Forecast to rise to 3.5 ft Mon 11 AM, below the 18 ft flood stage.
Flow: 3,150 cubic feet per second (USGS).
River camera
Watch the time-lapse
Camera by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most take a picture every hour, some every few minutes; many stop at night.
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:08 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Clearwater River at Spalding to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 19.4 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 19 ft |
| Flood stage | 18 ft |
| Action stage | 17 ft |
| Record crest (February 5, 1963) | 27.77 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 23 ftSignificant flooding is likely in and around Spalding. Lapwai Creek will back up from its confluence with the Clearwater River and potentially cause flooding in North Lapwai.
- 21 ftBankfull stage at gage near Spalding Mill Road and Silver Drive.
- 18 ftLowland flooding is likely at Spalding in low-lying areas of the Nez Perce National Historical Park near the confluence with Lapwai Creek. The Clearwater may back up Lapwai Creek and cause low-land flooding in North Lapwai. Water will likely be over the top of the bank and approaching homes on Clearwater Drive, just downstream of the Highway 95 bridge, with high potential for bank erosion in this area.
- 17 ftWater will be approaching the top of the bank of the homes along Clearwater Drive downstream of the Highway 95 bridge, approximately 10 to 15 horizontal feet from the houses. There is high potential for bank erosion due to deep water and high velocities near the bank.
- 13 ftWater will be in the yards of the homes on Clearwater Drive, downstream of the Highway 95 bridge
Highest crests on record
- 27.77 ft — February 5, 1963
- 25.6 ft — January 5, 1928
- 23.76 ft — May 29, 1948
- 23.19 ft — December 23, 1933
- 21.42 ft — May 20, 1957
Recent crests: 13.3 ft (May 5, 2023) · 13.37 ft (May 4, 2023) · 17.06 ft (June 13, 2022) · 11.33 ft (May 18, 2021) · 13.17 ft (May 21, 2020)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SPDI1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.