CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

PAJARO RIVER - CHITTENDEN (AROC1)

Latitude: 36.90º N	Longitude: 121.60º W	Elevation: 82 Feet
Location: Santa Cruz County in California		Bulletin Group: Central Coast		River Group: Salinas/Pajaro

Monitor Stage: 22.0 Feet

Flood Stage: 24.1 Feet

Please Note:

Provisional monitor and flood stages have been established along the Pajaro River due to observed impacts to the levee system from previous flood events.

Plot Type:

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
2022	1,150	11.57	Dec 28, 2021
2021	1,160	9.97	Jan 29, 2021
2020	1,070	9.60	Apr 6, 2020
2019	4,540	20.49	Feb 15, 2019
2018	909	9.22	Mar 23, 2018
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - February 1938* to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1998	25,100	33.73	Feb 3, 1998
1956	24,000	32.46	Dec 24, 1955
1958	23,500	33.11	Apr 3, 1958
1995	21,500	32.20	Mar 11, 1995
1969	17,800	23.90	Feb 25, 1969
* Missing data during 1939, otherwise record complete

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Impacts - E19 Information
22.0 Feet	Monitor Stage. Water beginning to rise onto levee slopes.
24.1 Feet	Minor Flood Stage. Water levels within 3 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro. Increased potential for seepage through levee at vulnerable locations.
25.1 Feet	Water levels within 2 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro.
27.1 Feet	Major Flood Stage. Levees protecting Pajaro at risk of overtopping at lowest points or severely strained if sandbagged. Seepage likely throughout the levee system.
29.0 Feet	Levees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro at risk of failure. Flooding throughout the Pajaro Valley.
33.73 Feet	Stage and flow of record on 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ529)

Rest of Today: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. A slight chance of drizzle after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A slight chance of drizzle in the morning. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly clear except patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Saturday: Sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 60s. North winds around 5 mph and becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

Sunday Night and Monday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the upper 60s.

Monday Night and Tuesday: Clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.

Tuesday Night and Wednesday: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs in the lower 70s.

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