The Missouri River below Holter Dam was flowing at 3,580 cubic feet per second as of Monday morning, July 28, according to a U.S. Geological Survey gauge reading taken at 11:45 a.m. at Station 06066500. The Holter Dam release rate is a number that Helena-area anglers, boaters, and Canyon Ferry recreators tend to keep an eye on, as flows downstream from the dam influence wading conditions on the upper Missouri and affect how the river fishes through the Gates of the Mountains stretch.
For context, 3,580 cfs is within a range that allows wading in many stretches below the dam, though conditions vary by section. Higher flows earlier in the season, driven by snowmelt and reservoir management, typically taper through July and August as irrigation demand peaks and reservoir levels are managed for late-season storage. Real-time streamflow data for the Holter gauge is available through the USGS National Water Information System.