CNRFC - Hydrology - River Guidance - Graphical RVF

Location:

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

Issuance Time:

Sep 21 2023 at 8:12 AM PDT

Next Issuance:

Sep 22 2023 at 9:00 AM PDT

Monitor Stage: 12.5 Feet

Flood Stage: 13.5 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
2022*	1,180	13.51	Oct 25, 2021
2021*	241	11.56	May 7, 2021
2020*	615	12.70	Apr 30, 2020
2019*	1,140	13.42	Jun 7, 2019
2018*	2,750	14.38	Apr 7, 2018
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

Impacts - E19 Information
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.
13.5 Feet	Flood Stage. Minor flooding begins in lowest areas along the West Fork Carson River in southwest Carson Valley including 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 to peak to February 2017 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.
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.
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.
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.
16.0 Feet	Record, disastrous flooding previously unknown on entire West Fork Carson River in southwest Douglas County, Nevada, and eastern Alpine County, California. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, bridges,water, and irrigation systems. Power, communications, and transportation systems severely affected. Most highways and bridges flooded or washed out. Exceeds record 1/1/1997 flood.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ072)

Today: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers in the morning, then scattered showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow level 9000 feet. Highs 52 to 62. West winds 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight: Clear. Lows 26 to 36. West winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

Friday: Sunny. Highs 59 to 69. Light winds.

Friday Night: Clear. Lows 29 to 39. Light winds.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs 62 to 72. Light winds becoming southwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Clear. Lows 32 to 42.

Sunday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs 61 to 71.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows 34 to 44.

Monday: Breezy. Partly cloudy. Highs 61 to 71.

Monday Night and Tuesday: Breezy. Partly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows 34 to 44. Highs 56 to 66.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the evening. Lows 30 to 40.

Wednesday: Sunny. Highs 60 to 70.

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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