Dungeness River Flow Monitor

The Dungeness River flow rate varies within a normal range by season. Flow also varies by the hour, for example, when the river rises quickly during a rainstorm. Rainfall and snowmelt have the most influence on streamflow, while tributary inflows and irrigation withdrawals increase and decrease flow, respectively.
In recent decades, the average summer streamflow has decreased due to the shrinkage of glacial ice and reduced average annual snowpack in the uppermost slopes of the Dungeness River watershed. (A watershed is the land draining to a single stream.) Summer flows that are lower than historical averages can be a problem for salmon migrating upstream to spawn as well as for farmers accustomed to diverting river water for irrigation. Recommended actions listed above, for example, when summer flows are in a Low category, can help maintain healthy flows in the Dungeness River.