CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

SALINAS RIVER - SPRECKELS (SPRC1)

Latitude: 36.63º N	Longitude: 121.67º W	Elevation: 21 Feet
Location: Monterey County in California		River Group: Central Coast

Monitor Stage: 20.0 Feet

Flood Stage: 23.0 Feet

Observed Data Credit
	Raw streamflow data is provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS). View USGS Data for this station location.

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year	Peak Discharge (cfs)	Stage (feet)	Date
Most Recent 5 Years
2015*	7	2.61	Dec 12, 2014
2014*	29	2.62	Oct 2, 2013
2013*	1,020	9.42	Dec 25, 2012
2012*	222	5.96	Jan 25, 2012
2011*	12,300	20.14	Mar 26, 2011
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1929 to Present)**
1995*	95,000	30.29	Mar 12, 1995
1969*	83,100	26.51	Feb 26, 1969
1938	75,000***	25.00	Feb 12, 1938
1983*	63,000	23.44	Mar 3, 1983
1978*	57,400	22.66	Feb 11, 1978

* Discharge affected by regulation or diversion
** Most recent continuous record back to Oct 1929 with segmented periods back to Jan 1900
*** Highest flow since regulation by Santa Margarita Lake began in 1941

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ528)

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph decreasing to around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s to lower 80s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph decreasing to around 5 mph after midnight.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s to lower 80s. Northwest winds around 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph and becoming 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Friday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Patchy fog. Highs in the lower 70s salinas valley and in the mid 80s hollister valley.

Friday Night through Tuesday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s salinas valley and in the mid 80s to lower 90s hollister valley.

Impacts - E19 Information
19.0 Feet	Minor lowland flooding of agricultural land can be expected.
23.0 Feet	A few residences will begin to flood near the Salinas River along the reach of the gage. River Road will begin to flood near Spreckels.
24.0 Feet	Significant flooding of the lowest portions of agricultural land can be expected along the lower portions of the Salinas River. River Road and Spreckels Boulevard will begin to flood.
26.0 Feet	Moderate flooding along lower portions of Soledad, Gonzales, Chular, Spence, and Spreckels can be expected. At least 20,000 acres of farm land may become inundated in the Salinas Valley. Levees along the lower Salinas River will be in danger of breaching. Some primary and secondary roads along the Salinas River begin to flood. Highway 68 is forecast to become inundated.
27.0 Feet	The lower portions of Castroville will begin to flood. Flooding can be expected to Foster Road, 1 mile south of Salinas. Highway 156 near Castroville will begin to flood. Many secondary roads will be inundated in the Salinas Valley. Major flood damage to agricultural land in the Salinas Valley.
28.0 Feet	Major flooding is expected along lower portions of Soledad, Gonzales, Chular, Spence, Spreckels, and Castroville. Major damage will occur to wide expanses of agricultrual land in the Salinas Valley with at least 40,000 acres possibly inundated. Many secondary and some primary roads in the Salinas Valley will become flooded making travel difficult. Highway 156 and Highway 68 will become inundated and impassable. Water/Sewage treatment plants along the lower Salinas River will be in danger of becoming flooded.
29.0 Feet	All roads just south and west of Spreckels will become inundated. US 101 is forecast to flood just north of Soledad. Highway 1 just south of Castroville near Nashua Road is forecast to become inundated. Major damage to roads, agricultural land, and homes in the Salinas Valley will be experienced.
30.0 Feet	Disastrous flooding will occur within the lower Salinas Valley. The city of Salinas will be in danger of becoming inundated. Most of Castroville is expected to experience flooding. All roads near the Salinas River will be inundated, making travel impossible. Disastrous flooding will occur to wide expanses of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley with at least 90,000 acres possibly inundated.

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 San Francisco Bay Area-Monterey 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.

NWS RSS Feed