CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

WEST FORK CARSON RIVER - WOODFORDS (WOOC1)

Latitude: 38.77º N	Longitude: 119.83º W	Elevation: 5755 Feet
Location: Alpine County in California		Bulletin Group: Eastern Sierra		River Group: Eastern Sierra

Action/Monitor: 12.5 Feet

Minor Flood: 13.5 Feet

Moderate Flood: 14.5 Feet

Major Flood: 15.0 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*	678	13.12	Apr 23, 2024
2023*	1,940	14.02	May 19, 2023
2022*	1,180	13.51	Oct 25, 2021
2021*	241	11.56	May 7, 2021
2020*	615	12.70	Apr 30, 2020
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1938 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997*	8,100	15.36	Jan 01, 1997
1963*	4,890	9.00	Feb 01, 1963
1956*	4,810	8.86**	Dec 23, 1955
1938*	3,500	8.00**	Dec 11, 1937
* Discharge affected to unknown degree by regulation or diversion
** Prior to November 1958, gage at two different datums at the same location.
*** November 1958 to January 1963, gage 150 ft downstream. Datum change with a difference of +3.06 ft must be applied to data in this time range to convert to current datum.
**** March 1997, gage moved 200 ft upstream using same datum.

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
15.5 Feet	Disastrous, record flooding along entire reach of West Fork Carson River in both Alpine County, California, and Douglas County, Nevada. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, bridges, and irrigation systems. Communications, power, and transportation systems severely disrupted. Many highways, roads, and bridges impassable. Roughly Similar peak level to January 1997 event.
15.0 Feet	Major Flooding. Substantial damage to homes, businesses, schools, and property in south Carson Valley from Centerville to Genoa. Many local roads flood including Centerville, Mottsville, and Muller Lanes. Interruption of power, communications, and water systems. Major flooding also in Alpine County, California, near Woodfords and Paynesville. CA Highways 89 and 88, and NV Highway 88 flood. Downstream Hwy 395 floods.
14.5 Feet	Moderate flooding in southwest Carson Valley between Centerville and Genoa, with some damage to homes and businesses. Many local roads flooded in this area. Minor to moderate flooding in Alpine County, California, near Woodfords and Paynesville. Lane or road closures on Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way likely if combined with flood flows on the East Fork. Similar peak level to December 2005 event.
14.0 Feet	Minor flooding in the southwestern Carson Valley between Centerville and Genoa,impacting agricultural areas, local roads, and outbuildings. Impacts will be more significant if heavy rain and/or snowmelt cause significant rises in small creeks draining the east side of the Carson Range below Woodfords. Possible lane closures on Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way if combined with flood flows on the East Fork. Similar peak level to January 2017 event and May 2017 peak snowmelt.
13.5 Feet	Minor flooding begins in lowest areas along the West Fork of the Carson River in southwest Carson Valley including agricultural areas, local roads and outbuildings. Residents along the river should prepare for more serious flooding if there are additional rises expected due to snowmelt and/or rainfall runoff. Impacts will be more significant if heavy rain and/or snowmelt causes significant rises in small creeks draining the east side of the Carson Range below Woodfords. Similar to peak of Feb 2017 event.
12.5 Feet	Monitoring Stage. No flooding occurs. However, residents along the West Fork Carson River should be prepared for flooding if there are additional rises expected due to snowmelt and/or rainfall runoff.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ072)

Today: Sunny. Highs 69 to 79. Light winds becoming southwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Clear. Lows 43 to 53. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs 68 to 78. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Clear. Lows 41 to 51. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. Ridge gusts up to 65 mph.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs 58 to 68. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the afternoon. Ridge gusts up to 60 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Breezy, clear. Lows 30 to 40.

Monday: Breezy. Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Chance of showers. Highs 45 to 55.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers in the evening, then chance of snow showers after midnight. Lows 24 to 34.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers in the morning, then chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 41 to 51.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the evening. Lows 25 to 35.

Wednesday and Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Highs 50 to 60. Lows 29 to 39.

Thursday: Sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs 56 to 66.

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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