CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

WEST WALKER RIVER - HWY 395 BELOW LITTLE WALKER (WWBC1)

Latitude: 38.38º N	Longitude: 119.45º W	Elevation: 6591 Feet
Location: Mono County in California		River Group: Eastern Sierra

Monitor Stage: 5.5 Feet

Flood Stage: 6.0 Feet

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
2021	909	3.65	May 7, 2021
2020	1,300	4.19	Apr 29, 2020
2019	2,970	6.16	Jun 7, 2019
2018	3,320	5.76	Apr 7, 2018
2017	4,260	6.95	Jun 20, 2017
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Apr 1938 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997*	12,300	10.11	Jan 02, 1997
1951*	6,220	8.10	Nov 20, 1950
1938*	5,800	--	Dec 11, 1937
1956*	5,180	7.41	Dec 23, 1955
1996*	4,610	6.55	May 16, 1996
* Numerous small gage location changes, some including datum changes, prior to Mar 1997.

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ073)

Today: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers in the morning, then sunny in the afternoon. Highs 34 to 44. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Ridge gusts up to 60 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers after midnight. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Lows 17 to 27. Southwest winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light.

Tuesday: Heavy snow showers. Snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches with 9 to 15 inches above 7000 feet. Highs 28 to 38. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Ridge gusts up to 50 mph increasing to 70 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Snow showers likely. Lows 9 to 19. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Ridge gusts up to 60 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs 29 to 39. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Ridge gusts up to 50 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers in the evening. Lows 8 to 18.

Thursday through Friday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Highs 31 to 41. Lows 4 to 14.

Saturday through Sunday: Partly cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs 25 to 35. Lows 1 to 11.

Impacts - E19 Information
5.5 Feet	Monitor stage. No flooding in reach from West Walker River Canyon through Antelope Valley CA, including Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA.
6.0 Feet	Flood Stage. Minor flooding of lowlands, pasture, and rural roads in West Walker River Canyon and Antelope Valley, including Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Roughly similar to late May 2005, and slightly below peaks of June 2010 and May 2006.
6.5 Feet	Moderate flooding of lowlands, pasture, and some rural roads from the West Walker River Canyon to Topaz Lake, including Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Similar to peak of June 2011, and slightly below the peak of June 2017.
7.0 Feet	Significant flooding of lowlands, agricultural land, yards, basements, rural roads in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley, including Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Flooding of structures limited although sandbagging necessary. Roughly similar to May 1996 flood, and slightly in excess of June 2017 peak.
7.3 Feet	Major flooding in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley - Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Many buildings, roads flooded and washed out, with major damage to agricultural lands. Extensive sandbagging required to protect property. Transportation affected. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker Canyon possible.
7.5 Feet	Major flooding in the West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley - Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Many buildings, roads flooded and washed out. Major damage to agricultural lands. Extensive sandbagging required to protect property. Transportation affected. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker Canyon.
8.0 Feet	Flooding near disaster levels in the West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley - Walker, Coleville, and Topaz CA. Numerous structures flooded and roads washed out. Many sections of Highway 395 destroyed in West Walker Canyon. Major damage to agricultural land due to erosion and destroyed facilities, diversion dams, headgates, canals, levees.
8.25 Feet	Flood disaster in West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley. Widespread flood damage to roads, bridges, homes, and structures along river. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker Canyon with highway likely closed. Historically this flow has been reached or exceeded only once in January 1997.
8.8 Feet	Flood disaster from Walker River Canyon to Antelope Valley/Topaz Lake. Widespread flood damage to roads, bridges, homes, and structures along river. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker River Canyon with the highway probably closed. Historically this flow has been exceeded only once, in January 1997.
9.5 Feet	Near record flooding. Area cut off as most transportation routes into area destroyed/flooded. Massive destruction of infrastructure and economy including utilities, roads, business, homes, etc.
10.25 Feet	Flood of record. Highway 395 in West Walker River Canyon closed for months. Massive destruction to infrastructure and economy including transportation, power, water, homes, businesses, etc. Area isolated. At this stage in January 1997, a 6.5 mile stretch of Highway 395 completely scoured with debris from canyon deposited in the town of Walker.
10.5 Feet	Incredible flood disaster in excess of January 1997 event.

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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