USGS Water-Year Summary 2023
14048000 JOHN DAY RIVER AT MCDONALD FERRY, OR
LOCATION - Lat 45°35'16", long 120°24'30" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in NE 1/4 NW 1/4 sec.11, T.1 N., R.19 E., Sherman County, OR, Hydrologic Unit 17070204, on left bank, at McDonald Ferry, 0.8 mi downstream from Rock Creek, 10 mi east of Klondike and at mile 20.9.
DRAINAGE AREA - 7,580 mi². approximately.
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1094: 1894(M), 1932(M). WSP 1448: 1908-9, 1912, 1916, 1920(M), 1922, 1932.
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - December 1904 to September 1996, October 1997 to current year. Prior to Oct. 1, 1930, published as "at McDonald."
GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 392.27 ft above NGVD of 1929. Prior to Aug. 30, 1930, nonrecording gage at same site and datum.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of 1894 reached a stage of 12.8 ft, from floodmarks, discharge, 39,100 ft³/s, from rating curve extended above 22,000 ft³/s. Flood of Jan. 2, 1997, reached a stage of 15.25 ft, from floodmark, discharge, 43,300 ft³/s.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 42,800 ft³/s Dec. 24, 1964, gage height, 13.59 ft, from floodmark, from rating curve extended above 11,000 ft³/s on basis of slope-area measurement of peak flow; no flow for part of Sept. 2, 1966, Aug. 15 to Sept. 16, 1973, Aug. 13, 14, 19-25, 1977.