CNRFC - Hydrology - River Guidance - Graphical RVF

PAJARO RIVER - CHITTENDEN (AROC1)

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

Issuance Time:

Sep 17 2021 at 7:32 AM PDT

Next Issuance:

Sep 18 2021 at 9:00 AM PDT

Monitor Stage: 25.0 Feet

Flood Stage: 32.0 Feet

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
2020	1,070	9.60	Apr 6, 2020
2019	4,540	20.49	Feb 15, 2019
2018	909	9.22	Mar 23, 2018
2017	9,160	26.98	Feb 21, 2017
2016	4,050	19.82	Mar 14, 2016
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
1955	21,500	32.20	Mar 11, 1955
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

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ529)

Rest of Today: Mostly cloudy late in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. West winds around 5 mph and becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming cloudy. A chance of rain. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph in the evening and becoming light. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Sunday: Cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. A chance of rain in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s. Light winds and Becoming west 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

Monday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

Monday Night: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

Impacts - E19 Information
25.0 Feet	Scouring of lowlands throughout the Pajaro Valley in areas not protected by levees.
28.0 Feet	Some minor flooding of lowest agricultural areas in all reaches above Chittenden. Some secondary roads begin to flood. Watsonville levees within 3 feet of top.
29.5 Feet	Levees protecting Watsonville within 2 feet of top. Moderate bank erosion and sediment deposition throughout reach. Some secondary roads flooded. State Highway 129 between US 101 and Watsonville begins to flood at railroad underpass 300 feet below gage and other lower spots along the river.
32.0 Feet	Significant damage from bank erosion and sediment deposition throughout reach. Some primary and many secondary roads flooded. Minor flooding of low portions of towns within the reach of the gage begins. Damage to roads and bridges possible due to erosion or logjams.
32.5 Feet	Widespread flooding through the Pajaro Valley, with extensive damage and possible loss of life. Extensive erosion and logjam damage to highways and bridges. Many primary and most secondary roads flooded making transportation difficult.
33.11 Feet	Extensive flood damage throughout the Pajaro Valley. Transportation extremely difficult. Watsonville and Pajaro levees overtopped or severely strained if sandbagged.
33.5 Feet	Severe damage in Pajaro Valley, especially in Pajaro and Watsonville areas and likely near San Juan Bautista along the San Benito River and portions south of Gilroy near the Pajaro River. Transportation essentially impossible.
33.73 Feet	Stage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs.
35.0 Feet	Bankfull at gage. Transportation impossible. Levees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro in great danger of failing.

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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