--- title: "Fraser and Nechako river levels at Prince George | PG Pulse" description: "Live Fraser and Nechako river levels and flow at Prince George against 50+ years of records, with flood context and drinking water quality." url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/rivers/ markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/rivers.md site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia generated: 2026-10-16T15:49:28.468Z --- # Prince George rivers and water levels The Nechako joins the Fraser at downtown Prince George. Both rivers rise with snowmelt each spring, peak between May and July, and drop through fall and winter. **What these numbers tell you** Water level and flow measure different things. Compare readings from the same station and use official advisories for current warnings. ## Terms explained - **m**: Metres, used here for water level at a station. - **m³/s**: Cubic metres per second, the volume of water passing the station. - [Right now](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/) - [Weather](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/weather/) - [Climate](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/climate/) - [Air quality](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/air-quality/) - [Rivers and water](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/rivers/) - [Wildfire](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/wildfire/) - [Power](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/power/) - [People](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/people/) - [Economy](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/economy/) - [Housing](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/housing/) - [Taxes and fees](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/taxes/) - [Land and resources](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/resources/) - [Safety](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/safety/) - [Cameras and more](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/live/) Watch The Fraser gauge in town has not reported since Oct 7, 2:30 p.m., when it read 4.3 m; a typical spring peak there is about 8.5 m. Fraser at Shelley is above the usual range for this date. This is a reading of the gauges, not a forecast: flood advisories come from the [BC River Forecast Centre](https://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.htm). Gauge readings updated 11 min ago Fraser River at South Fort George 4.3 m Not reporting since Oct 7, 2:30 p.m. 08KE018, last reading Fraser River at Shelley 954 m³/s +82 m³/s in 24 h · above normal for the date Level 3.29 m · 08KB001, read Oct 16, 3:05 a.m. Nechako River at Isle Pierre 130 m³/s ±0 m³/s in 24 h · normal for the date Level 1.42 m · 08JC002, read Oct 16, 2:40 a.m. Salmon River near Prince George 9.7 m³/s ±0 m³/s in 24 h Level 1.13 m · 08KC001, read Oct 16, 3:00 a.m. Source: [Water Survey of Canada real-time hydrometric data (provisional); typical range from approved daily means](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/). [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Water+Survey+of+Canada+real-time+hydrometric+data+%28provisional%29%3B+typical+range+from+approved+daily+means) ## Last 30 days against the historical range Water level, m This year (hourly) Median for the date Middle half of years Source: [Water Survey of Canada real-time data; historical range from HYDAT daily means](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/). [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Water+Survey+of+Canada+real-time+data%3B+historical+range+from+HYDAT+daily+means) ## The whole year Every day of the year against the full record for the station selected above. The outer band is the lowest to highest on record for that date, the inner band the middle half of years. Water level, m Latest approved year Last 30 days (provisional) Median Source: [Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Survey of Canada, HYDAT daily means (hydrometric-daily-mean)](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/), as of approved data to Nov 6, 2025. [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Environment+and+Climate+Change+Canada%2C+Water+Survey+of+Canada%2C+HYDAT+daily+means+%28hydrometric-daily-mean%29) ## Recorded water level, Fraser in town Source: [Water Survey of Canada real-time data, recorded by PG Pulse](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/rivers/08KE018/history). [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Water+Survey+of+Canada+real-time+data%2C+recorded+by+PG+Pulse) ## Recorded flows Fraser at Shelley Nechako at Isle Pierre Salmon River Source: [Water Survey of Canada real-time data, recorded by PG Pulse](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/history/series). [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Water+Survey+of+Canada+real-time+data%2C+recorded+by+PG+Pulse) ## Spring peaks, last 10 years _Highest daily mean each year by station_ | Year | Fraser at South Fort George | Fraser at Shelley | Nechako at Isle Pierre | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2024 | 6.81 mJun 29 | 1,880 m³/sJun 29 | 432 m³/sJul 26 | | 2023 | 8.74 mMay 8 | 3,520 m³/sMay 8 | 433 m³/sJul 23 | | 2022 | 9.11 mJul 1 | 3,410 m³/sJul 1 | 862 m³/sJul 16 | | 2021 | 9.44 mJun 5 | 3,930 m³/sJun 5 | 712 m³/sJun 11 | | 2020 | 9.47 mJul 5 | 4,140 m³/sJul 4 | 628 m³/sJul 31 | | 2019 | 7.86 mJun 2 | 2,620 m³/sJun 2 | 450 m³/sJul 24 | | 2018 | 9.11 mMay 18 | 3,410 m³/sMay 18 | 789 m³/sMay 12 | | 2017 | 8.82 mJun 11 | 3,330 m³/sJun 11 | 645 m³/sJun 20 | | 2016 | 7.41 mJul 5 | 2,260 m³/sJul 5 | 542 m³/sJul 21 | | 2015 | – | 2,770 m³/sMay 31 | 1,050 m³/sJun 6 | | Record | 10.35 mJun 15, 1972 | 4,980 m³/sJun 14, 1972 | 1,170 m³/sJun 30, 2007 | Source: [Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Survey of Canada, HYDAT daily means (hydrometric-daily-mean)](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/), as of approved data to Nov 6, 2025. [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Environment+and+Climate+Change+Canada%2C+Water+Survey+of+Canada%2C+HYDAT+daily+means+%28hydrometric-daily-mean%29) ## Floods and freshet Most years the Fraser peaks during the spring freshet, when mountain snowpack melts, usually between late May and early July. The biggest flow on record at Shelley, 4,980 m³/s, came on Jun 14, 1972; the in-town gauge at South Fort George reached 10.35 m the next day. The Nechako is regulated by releases from the Nechako Reservoir upstream, so its flow depends partly on water management as well as snowmelt. In winter, ice jams near the confluence can raise water levels quickly even when flows are low. For official advisories, check the [BC River Forecast Centre warnings map](https://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.htm) (high streamflow advisories, flood watches and warnings) and the City of Prince George for local notices. ## Drinking water Boil water notices and other drinking water advisories are issued by Northern Health: see its [list of active advisories](https://www.northernhealth.ca/services/environmental-health/drinking-water/advisories-and-notifications). Water produced in 2024 10.7million m³ About 29 million litres a day Boil water advisories 0 in 2024 Bacteriological samples 120a month 74 required by Northern Health Water main breaks 5 143 service connections repaired ### Where the water comes from - Prince George's drinking water is groundwater drawn from wells along the Nechako and Fraser rivers. The gravel layer between the rivers and the well intakes acts as natural filtration; the City has no additional filtration plant. - Water is chlorinated to Northern Health guidelines, with a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.2 ppm maintained throughout the distribution system. - The City met the Drinking Water Protection Regulation bacteriological standards in 2024 and did not need to issue any boil water advisories. - Distribution samples go to the BC Centre for Disease Control to confirm the absence of E. coli and total coliforms. Raw (untreated) well water is tested twice a year and the results are posted on the City's website. #### Share of supply by well, 2024 - PW605 Groundwater (Nechako River) 49.0% - PW601 Groundwater (Nechako River) 26.4% - PW660 Groundwater (Nechako River) 18.2% - PW621/624 Groundwater (Fraser River) 6.1% - PW652 Groundwater (southwest system) 0.3% ### Water produced by month, 2024 Thousand cubic metres. Summer lawn and garden watering drives the July peak. Read the [2024 Annual Water System Report](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/reports-publications/2024-city-prince-george-annual-water-system-report), or see raw water test results for each well on the [City’s water page](https://www.princegeorge.ca/water). Source: [City of Prince George, 2024 Annual Water System Report (released July 15, 2025)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/reports-publications/2024-city-prince-george-annual-water-system-report), as of 2024. [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+City+of+Prince+George%2C+2024+Annual+Water+System+Report+%28released+July+15%2C+2025%29) ## Gauges on the map Tap a marker for details. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Source: [Water Survey of Canada](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/). [Report a data problem](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/feedback/?kind=correction&page=%2Fdashboard%2Frivers%2F&subject=Data+problem%3A+Water+Survey+of+Canada) ## Sources - [Water Survey of Canada, real-time hydrometric data](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/search/real_time_e.html) - [HYDAT historical daily means](https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/hydrometric-daily-mean) - [BC River Forecast Centre](https://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/) - [City of Prince George, 2024 Annual Water System Report](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/reports-publications/2024-city-prince-george-annual-water-system-report) - [City of Prince George water utility](https://www.princegeorge.ca/water) **How these figures are gathered** Live figures are fetched from these providers and cached briefly on our server. Provisional real-time data can be revised by the source. When a source is down we say so rather than guess. - **Water Survey of Canada, real-time hydrometric data**: Stations 08KE018, 08KB001, 08JC002, 08KC001, via the ECCC GeoMet API - **HYDAT historical daily means**: Approved daily data used for the historical ranges and peaks - **BC River Forecast Centre**: Snowpack, streamflow advisories, flood watches and warnings - **City of Prince George water utility**: Raw water reports for each well ## More in Live [See all in Live](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/browse/#live) - [Live overview Everything happening right now](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/) - [Happening now Alerts, closures, outages, police](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/now/) - [Weather Now, radar, hourly and 14 days](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/weather/) - [Air quality AQHI and smoke](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/air-quality/) - [Mill smell Pulp mill odour forecast](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/smell/) - [Wildfire Fires, danger and evacuations](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/wildfire/) ## Data Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/). ### River gauges Source: [Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water Survey of Canada real-time hydrometric data (provisional)](https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/search/real_time_e.html). Licence: Environment and Climate Change Canada Data Servers End-use Licence (https://eccc-msc.github.io/open-data/licence/readme_en/). Updated 2026-10-16T15:37:20.747Z. JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/rivers?hourly=false | id | name | short | river | lat | lng | primary | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 08KE018 | Fraser River at South Fort George | Fraser (in town) | Fraser | 53.90078 | -122.73494 | level | | 08KB001 | Fraser River at Shelley | Fraser at Shelley | Fraser | 54.00367 | -122.62475 | discharge | | 08JC002 | Nechako River at Isle Pierre | Nechako | Nechako | 53.96044 | -123.23486 | discharge | | 08KC001 | Salmon River near Prince George | Salmon River | Salmon | 54.09642 | -122.67986 | discharge | _Nested fields (latest, change24h, direction) are in the JSON version._ ### Drinking water Source: [City of Prince George, 2024 Annual Water System Report (released July 15, 2025)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/reports-publications/2024-city-prince-george-annual-water-system-report). Licence: Open Government Licence – City of Prince George (https://pgmapinfo.princegeorge.ca/OpenData/CityofPrinceGeorge_Open_Government_License_Open_Data.pdf). Updated 2026-10-01T04:26:58.363Z. JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/water-quality - **source**: City of Prince George, 2024 Annual Water System Report (released July 15, 2025) - **sourceUrl**: - **pageUrl**: - **rawWaterReportsUrl**: - **asOf**: 2024 - **summary**: Prince George's drinking water is groundwater drawn from wells along the Nechako and Fraser rivers. The gravel layer between the rivers and the well intakes acts as natural filtration; the City has no additional filtration plant., Water is chlorinated to Northern Health guidelines, with a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.2 ppm maintained throughout the distribution system., The City met the Drinking Water Protection Regulation bacteriological standards in 2024 and did not need to issue any boil water advisories., Distribution samples go to the BC Centre for Disease Control to confirm the absence of E. coli and total coliforms. Raw (untreated) well water is tested twice a year and the results are posted on the City's website. - **monthlyProductionM3**: 817951, 751040, 741813, 801140, 998346, 863254, 1368242, 1172656, 823468, 831473, 770904, 794369 #### facts - **annualProductionM3**: 10734683 - **samplesPerMonthRequired**: 74 - **samplesPerMonthAverage**: 120 - **boilWaterAdvisories**: 0 - **waterMainBreaks**: 5 - **serviceConnectionsRepaired**: 143 - **hydrantInspections**: 620 - **consumerWaterMeters**: 4796 - **minimumFreeChlorinePpm**: 0.2 #### wells | name | source | type | sharePct | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | PW605 | Groundwater (Nechako River) | Radial collector | 49 | | PW601 | Groundwater (Nechako River) | Radial collector | 26.4 | | PW660 | Groundwater (Nechako River) | Radial collector | 18.2 | | PW621/624 | Groundwater (Fraser River) | Standard x2 | 6.1 | | PW652 | Groundwater (southwest system) | Standard x2 | 0.3 | | PW627 | Groundwater (Fraser River), backup | Standard x2 | 0 | --- Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/rivers/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/