CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIVER - PORTOLA (MFTC1)

Latitude: 39.82º N	Longitude: 120.44º W	Elevation: 4850 Feet
Location: Plumas County in California		River Group: Lower Sacramento

Monitor Stage: 7.0 Feet

Flood Stage: 8.5 Feet

Observed Data Credit
	Raw streamflow data is provided by the California Department of Water Resources. View CA DWR Data for this station location.

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year	Peak Discharge (cfs)	Stage (feet)	Date
Most Recent 5 Years
2015	622	4.56	Feb 12, 2015
2014	394	3.97	Feb 12, 2014
2013	942	5.19	Dec 5, 2012
2012	1,342	5.82	Mar 19, 2012
2011	4,851	9.03	Mar 17, 2011
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1968 to Present)
1969	7,640	10.62	Jan 21, 1969
1971	6,580	10.07	Mar 27, 1971
1980	5,690	9.56	Jan 14, 1980
1970	4,970	9.11	Jan 25, 1953
2011	4,851	9.03	Mar 17, 2011

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ071)

Tonight: Clear. Lows 45 to 55. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the evening becoming light.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs 89 to 99. Light winds becoming southwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Lows 49 to 59. West winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs 88 to 98. Light winds becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Clear. Lows 49 to 59. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the evening becoming light.

Friday: Sunny. Highs 88 to 98.

Friday Night: Clear. Lows 50 to 60.

Saturday through Sunday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs 92 to 102. Lows 51 to 61.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows 51 to 61.

Monday through Tuesday: Clear. Highs 88 to 98. Lows 50 to 60.

Impacts - E19 Information
7.0 Feet	Monitor Stage. Approximately 2350 cfs. No flooding between Beckwourth and Sloat California.
7.5 Feet	Some areas of very minor out of bank flow in reach between Beckwourth and Sloat California. Approximately 2850 cfs.
8.0 Feet	Some areas of minor out of bank flow in reach between Beckwourth and Sloat California, including Portola. Approximately 3440 cfs.
8.5 Feet	Flood Stage. Some minor lowland flooding in reach between Beckwourth and Sloat California, including Portola. Approximately 4100 cfs.
9.0 Feet	Minor flooding of lowlands, rural roads, agricultural areas and some low structures between Beckwourth and Sloat California, including Portola. In Portola, water as high as 2 ft below CA Hwy 70 road surface. Water nearing Sleepy Pines Motel and just below propane tanks on Hwy 70. About 2 feet below foundations of Veterans Hall and low homes along river near Hwy 70. South end of West Street in Portola floods. Portion of CA Hwy 89 near Clio begins to flood. Approximately 4800 cfs. Like flood of 3/17/2011.
9.5 Feet	Moderate flooding of lowlands,roads and low-lying structures in reach from Beckwourth to Sloat California, including Portola. In Portola, Sleepy Pines Motel on CA Hwy 70 begins to experience some minor flooding. Water near bottom of large propane tanks along Hwy 70. South end of West Street floods, nearing lowest homes. River within about a foot of foundation of Veterans Hall and some low homes along river. CA Hwy 89 near Clio flooded. Approximately 5600 cfs, like flood of 1/14/1980.
10.0 Feet	Moderate flooding of lowlands, structures and roads from Beckwourth to Sloat California, including Portola. Sleepy Pines Motel and other low structures along river in Portola flood. Evacuation of homes on south end of West Street likely to begin. Sewage ponds in Portola may exceed capacity and may need to release to river. River near foundation of Veterans Hall in Portola. CA Hwy 89 near Clio flooded. Approximately 6450 cfs. Like flood of 3/27/1971.
10.5 Feet	Major (near record) flooding of lowlands, roads, railroads, homes, businesses and structures along river from Beckwourth to Sloat California, including Portola...with significant damage. Approximately 7400 cfs. Like record flood of January 21 1969 (7640 cfs).
11.0 Feet	Major (record) flooding of homes, businesses, structures, roads, railroads, bridges from Beckwourth to Sloat California, including Portola. Approximately 8400 cfs. Before gage record, this was exceeded during floods of 2/21/1927, 3/26/1928, 4/6/1952, 12/23/1955, 2/1/1963, 12/24/1964, 1/2/1997. In the 1/2/1997 flood, extensive damage (over $90 million in 1997 dollars) to homes, bridges, roads and railroads. Flooding caused a 50 ft section of CA Hwy 70 between Blairsden and Sloat to collapse.

Product Disclaimer

This river graphic is not intended to serve as a substitute for official flood watches, warnings, advisories, or statements issued by the NWS Reno Weather Forecast Office. Observations are preliminary and subject to change. River levels identified as "forecast" should be consistent with those contained in official NWS products. River levels identified as "guidance" have significant uncertainty due to future weather or reservoir regulation and are provided for planning purposes only.

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