CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

*** IMPORTANT *** Week of June 16 - Website Data Outage - Due to a major computer upgrade the week of June 16, nearly all data on the CNRFC web site will not be updated. We anticipate the down time to be approximately 4 days. The latest deterministic hydrologic forecasts for official forecast points will continue to be available at the National Water Prediction Service during this time.

SALINAS RIVER - SPRECKELS (SPRC1)

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

Action/Monitor: 20.0 Feet

Minor Flood: 23.0 Feet

Moderate Flood: 26.0 Feet

Major Flood: 28.0 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*	3,270	16.18	Feb 6, 2024
2023*	23,300	26.89	Mar 13, 2023
2022*	574	9.24	Dec 29, 2021
2021*	2,470	12.94	Jan 30, 2021
2020*	437	8.34	Apr 8, 2020
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1929 to Present)** - Ranked by Flow
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
2023*	23,300	26.89	Mar 13, 2023
* 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
**** No flow observed during the entire water year

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
30.29 Feet	Flood of Record, March 12, 1995, 95,000 cfs. Disastrous flood damage to roads and agriculture land in the Salinas Valley. The city of Salinas in danger of being inundated, with the lowest portions of the city beginning to flood. Historical Note: at least 2,000 acres of agricultural land were permanently destroyed by erosion and soil deposition by this flood of record.
30.0 Feet	Disastrous floding within the reach of the gage. Major damage to Southern Pacific Railroad near Castroville and Spreckels. Castroville residences and businesses from Merritt Street toward the Salinas River inundated. Disastrous flooding to farm land in the Salinas Valley, including severe damage due to erosion and sediment deposition. At least 100,000 acres inundated. Travel in the Salinas Valley near impossible. Water/sewage treatment plants flooded.
29.0 Feet	Major flooding continues along the entire reach. Possible evacuations of Soledad, Gonzales, Chualar, Spreckels, and Castroville. All roads to Spreckels inundated, isolating the town. US 101 inundated just north of Soledad. Highway 1 south of Castroville near Nashua Road begins to flood.
28.0 Feet	Major flooding of agricultural land within the reach of the gages. Major flooding begins along lower portions of Soledad, Gonzales, Chualar, Spence, Spreckels and Castroville. Water/sewage treatment plants in danger of being flooded. Many secondary and some primary roads inundated making travel difficult in the Salinas Valley. Highway 156 and 68 inundated and closed. Major damage to wide expanses of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley with 40,000 acres inundated.
27.0 Feet	Moderate flooding continues along the reach. Approaches to river bridges within the reach begin to erode. Lower portions of Castroville begin to flood. Highway 156 near Castroville begins to flood. Flooding to Foster Road, 1 mile of Salinas.
26.0 Feet	Moderate flooding of agricultural land and lower portions of Soledad, Gonzales, Chualar, Spence and Spreckels. Primary and secondary roads begin to flood within the reach. Highway 68 begins to flood. Levees in danger of breaching along the reach. At least 20,000 acres of farm land inundated in the Salinas Valley.
24.0 Feet	Significant flooding of the lowest portions of agricultural land begins within the reach of the gage. River Road and Spreckels Boulevard begin to flood.
23.0 Feet	A few farm residences will begin to flood near the Salinas River along the reach of the gage. River Road will begin to flood near Spreckels.
19.0 Feet	Minor lowland flooding of agricultural land can be expected.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ528)

rest of Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows around 50. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the 60s to upper 70s. Light winds and becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.

Thursday Night through Sunday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the upper 60s to lower 80s.

Sunday Night and Monday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Highs in the 70s to lower 80s.

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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