Major Flood
20 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
12.5 ft
Minor Flood
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
23.45 ft
Flood of record...1/3/97. $178 million damage to Yosemite Valley.
13.6 ft
Lift stations at Housekeeping Camp and Yosemite Creek flooded. Southside Drive at Chapel Meadow impassable.
12.5 ft
Northside Drive at Wosky Pond, El Capitan crossover, and Sentinel crossover are impassable to vehicles.
12 ft
Water on road at Northside Drive, Southside Drive, El Capitan crossover, Sentinel crossover, and Highway 140 near Cookie Cliff.
11.4 ft
Water begins to overtop road curbs on Northside Drive. Swinging Bridge overtops.
10 ft
Merced River at Pohono Bridge begins to rise out of its banks. Flood Stage.
9.5 ft
Lower Pines and Housekeeping Camp begin flooding.
7 ft
RIVER IS CLOSED TO RAFTERS AND FLOATATION DEVICES.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 1997 | 23.43 ft | 24,600 cfs |
| Dec 22, 1955 | 21.52 ft | 23,400 cfs |
| Nov 18, 1950 | 20.98 ft | 23,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
POHC1
River
Merced River
County
Mariposa, CA
Coordinates
37.7169°N, 119.6663°W
Get Flood Alerts for Merced River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Merced River at Pohono Bridge?
The Merced River at Pohono Bridge gauge is maintained by USGS (site 11266500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Merced River at Pohono Bridge?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Merced River at Pohono Bridge is 10 feet. Action stage begins at N/A feet. Moderate flooding starts at 12.5 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Merced River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Merced River at Pohono Bridge to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Merced River at Pohono Bridge gauge located?
The gauge is located in Mariposa County, California at coordinates 37.7169°N, 119.6663°W. USGS site number: 11266500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Merced River
On This River
Downstream: Merced River at Stevinson
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers