CNRFC - Hydrology - River Guidance - Graphical RVF

Location:

SALINAS RIVER - BRADLEY (BRDC1)

Latitude: 35.93º N	Longitude: 120.87º W	Elevation: 443 Feet		Forecast Type: Official Location
Location: Monterey County in California		Bulletin Group: Central Coast		River Group: Salinas/Pajaro

Issuance Time:

Nov 12 2026 at 7:03 AM PST

Next Issuance:

Nov 12 2026 at 3:00 PM PST

Action: 12.0 Feet

Minor Flood: 14.0 Feet

Moderate Flood: 20.0 Feet

Major Flood: 22.0 Feet

Plot Type:

Please Note:
1) Each individual timeseries plotted on the graphical river forecast can be toggled on and off by clicking the legend entry above. If the "Observed (Raw Gauge)" contains bad data and is toggled off, the plot will scale to the remaining timeseries.

2) At extremely low river flows, the "Observed (Raw Gauge)" may show readings below the lower end of the available rating table, while the "Observed (Simulated)" will only show values at the bottom of the rating table, creating a potential discrepancy between the two readings.

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

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year	Peak Discharge (cfs)	Stage (feet)	Date
Most Recent 5 Years
2025*	896	5.18	Feb 14, 2025
2024*	4,630	8.85	Feb 19, 2024
2023*	45,600	19.64	Jan 10, 2023
2022*	810	4.89	Dec 30, 2021
2021*	784	4.88	Jan 29, 2021
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1948 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1995*	120,000	23.44	Mar 11, 1995
1969*	117,000	20.34	Feb 24, 1969
1978*	70,600	18.68	Feb 10, 1978
2023*	45,600	19.64	Jan 10, 2023
1967*	34,000	16.20	Dec 27, 1966
1983*	31,600	15.28	Jan 27, 1983
* Discharge affected by regulation or diversion

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
23.4 Feet	FLOOD STAGE OF RECORD. March 11th, 1995, 120,000 cfs. Extensive flood damage to roads and agricultural land in the Salinas Valley. 100,000 arces inundated in the Salinas Valley with as least 2,000 acres permanently destroyed by erosion and sediment depostion.
23.0 Feet	Disastrous flooding occurs across wide expanses of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley, including damage due to erosion and sediment deposition. At least 90,000 acres of farm land is inundated in the Salinas Valley. Salinas Valley travel is impossible. Some residences along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad are in danger of flooding.
22.0 Feet	Major Flood Stage. Major flooding occurs along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad. Most primary and secondary roads are flooded making travel in the Salinas Valley very difficult. Widespread flooding occurs at the San Ardo oil fields. Water and sewage treatment plants along the upper Salinas River are in danger of flooding. Major damage continues to a wide expanse of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley with at least 40,000 acres inundated.
20.0 Feet	Moderate Flood Stage. Moderate flooding occurs along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad. Many of the secondary roads and some of the primary roads along the Salinas River will flood. Major damage due to erosion and sediment deposition with 15,000 acres possibly inundated in the Salinas Valley. Major damage to agricultural land along the upper Salinas River is expected.
18.0 Feet	Minor flooding begins at the San Ardo oil fields. Significant flooding of lowest portions of towns within the reach of the gage (from Bradley to Soledad). Flooding of secondary roads begins along the reach. Significant flooding of agricultural land within the reach. Minor damage due to erosion and sediment deposition.
16.0 Feet	Minor flooding of agricultural land is expected. The lower portions of the San Ardo oil fields is close to flooding.
14.0 Feet	Minor Flood Stage. Right bank overflows at gage. San Ardo oil fields in danger of flooding.
12.0 Feet	Action Stage.

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.

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Verification - Historical Graphical RVF
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