CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER - GARDNERVILLE (GRDN2)

Latitude: 38.85º N	Longitude: 119.70º W	Elevation: 4988 Feet
Location: Douglas County in Nevada		Bulletin Group: Eastern Sierra		River Group: Eastern Sierra

Action/Monitor: 13.0 Feet

Minor Flood: 14.0 Feet

Moderate Flood: 15.5 Feet

Major Flood: 16.5 Feet

Plot Type:

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
2024*	2,310	12.15	May 19, 2024
2023*	6,770	14.69	Dec 31, 2022
2022*	3,530	12.82	Oct 25, 2021
2021*	951	10.82	May 7, 2021
2020*	1,530	11.36	Apr 30, 2020
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Discontinuous 1890 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997*	20,300	13.00***	Jan 2, 1997
1956*	17,600	11.88***	Dec 23, 1955
1963*	13,400	10.45***	Feb 1, 1963
1951*	12,100	9.66***	Nov 21, 1950
* Discharge affected to unknown degree by regulation or diversion
** Prior to May 1939, several gage locations and datums within 2 miles of present location.
*** May 1939 to July 2001, gage location 300 ft downstream. Datum change with the difference +2.57 ft needing to be applied to all data in time range to convert to current datum.
**** July 2001 to January 2012, gage location 900 feet downstream with the same datum.

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
20.0 Feet	Record Flooding. All roads in and out of Carson Valley flooded. Large portion of Carson Valley under water. Extensive damage to homes businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, communications, water and power severely affected. Massive bank and channel erosion capable of sweeping away buildings, roads, and vehicles. Similar to the January 1997 event.
19.5 Feet	Near Record Flooding. All roads in and out of Carson Valley flooded. Extensive damage to homes businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, communications, water and power severely affected. Massive bank and channel erosion capable of sweeping away buildings, roads, and vehicles. Approaching the January 1997 event.
19.0 Feet	Widespread flood damage in Carson Valley. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, communications, water and power severely affected. Massive bank and channel erosion capable of sweeping away buildings, roads, and vehicles.
18.5 Feet	Widespread flood damage in Carson Valley. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, communications, water and power severely affected. Potential for major bank and channel erosion capable of sweeping away buildings, roads, and vehicles.
18.0 Feet	Widespread flood damage in Carson Valley. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, communications, water and power severely affected. Potential for massive bank and channel erosion capable of sweeping away buildings, roads, and vehicles.
17.5 Feet	Major flooding in Carson valley with significant damage. The East Fork of the Carson River feeds Rocky, Cottonwood, Martin, and Henningson Sloughs which flood portions of Minden/Gardnerville downtown areas, causing damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Major effects to transportation, communication, water and power systems.
17.0 Feet	Major flooding in Carson valley with significant damage. The East Fork of the Carson River feeds Rocky, Cottonwood, Martin, and Henningson Sloughs which flood portions of Minden/Gardnerville near downtown, causing damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Major effects to transportation, communication, and water and power systems.
16.5 Feet	Major Flood Stage. Major flooding in Carson Valley with significant damage. East Fork of Carson River feeds Rocky, Cottonwood, Martin, and Henninson Sloughs, which flood low portions of Minden/Gardnerville near downtown causing damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, and bridges. Transportation, including prolonged impacts to Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way, communication, and water and power systems significantly affected.
16.0 Feet	Moderate flood damage in Carson Valley. Some homes, business, schools, roads, and bridges in lower portions of Minden, Gardnerville, Centerville, Genoa, and Washoe Tribe Reservation flood. Moderate flood impacts to transportation, communication, and water and power systems. Highway 395 closure north of Stephanie Way likely. Flood level similar to January 2017 event.
15.5 Feet	Moderate Flood Stage. Moderate flood damage in Carson Valley area. Flooding starts to impact homes, businesses, schools, transportation, communication, and water and power systems. Closure of Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way likely.
15.0 Feet	Minor flooding in Carson Valley with some mobile home communities, outbuildings, many roads, and bridges in lower portions of Minden, Gardnerville, Centerville, Washoe Tribe Reservation and Genoa flooded. Lane closures on Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way likely. Similar level to February 2017 flood.
14.5 Feet	Minor flooding in Carson Valley with some outbuildings, roads, and bridges in lower portions of Minden, Gardnerville, Centerville, Washoe Tribe Reservation and Genoa flooded. Highway 395 lane closures north of Stephanie Way possible if combined with high flows from the west fork. Similar to 12/31/2022 peak.
14.0 Feet	Minor Flood Stage. Minor lowland flooding in Carson Valley. Low-lying roads, bridges, and drainage structures begin to sustain minor damage. Cottonwood Slough begins to flood Lampe Park. Flood prone areas include Washoe Tribe Reservation, Carson Valley Country Club, Glenwood Dr, Riverview Dr., Centerville Ln., NV Highway 88, Westwood Village, Rocky Slough, Waterloo and Mottsville Lanes. Possible impacts to south bound Highway 395 lanes north of Stephanie Way if combined with high flows from the West Fork.
13.5 Feet	Lowest portions of Carson Valley begin to have flood threat. The most flood prone areas include the Washoe Tribe Reservation, Carson Valley Country Club, Glenwood Drive, Riverview Drive, Centerville Road, NV Hwy 88, Westwood Village, Rocky Slough, Dresslerville Road, Waterloo and Mottsville Lanes.
13.0 Feet	Monitor stage, near Bank full, no flooding occurring. Residents along the river should prepare for flooding if additional rises due to snowmelt and/or rainfall runoff occur. Flood prone areas include Washoe Tribe Reservation, Carson Valley Country Club, Glenwood Dr, Riverview Dr, Centerville Rd., NV Highway 88, Westwood Village, Rocky Slough, Dresslerville Rd, Waterloo and Mottsville Lanes.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (NVZ003)

Tonight: Clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows 34 to 39. West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph becoming northwest around 10 mph after midnight.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the morning, then partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow level 5500 feet rising to 6500 feet. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Highs 56 to 61. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows 35 to 40. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs 64 to 69. Light winds becoming northwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows 39 to 44. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs 72 to 77.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy. Lows 43 to 53.

Friday and Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. Highs 71 to 76. Lows 48 to 53.

Saturday and Saturday Night: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs 65 to 70. Lows 40 to 45.

Sunday and Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Highs 63 to 68. Lows 41 to 46.

Monday: Sunny. Highs 69 to 74.

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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