RIVER GAUGE · PAJARO RIVER
Pajaro River at Chittenden
Santa Cruz County, California
Water level2.02 ft
Flow6 cfs
Last readingSep 16, 2026, 4:30 PM UTC (last recorded)
Action22 ft5,384.9 cfs
Minor flood24.1 ft7,015.8 cfs
Major flood27.1 ft10,217.1 cfs
The past week
Loading chart…
What floods at each level
- 33.73 ft
Stage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs
- 29 ft
Levees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro at risk of failure. Flooding throughout the Pajaro Valley.
- 27.1 ft
Major Flood Stage. Levees protecting Pajaro at risk of overtopping at lowest points or severely strained if sandbagged. Seepage likely throughout the levee system.
- 25.1 ft
Water levels within 2 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro.
- 24.1 ft
Minor Flood Stage. Water levels within 3 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro. Increased potential for seepage through levee at vulnerable locations.
- 22 ft
Action Stage. Water beginning to rise onto levee slopes.
Highest crests on record
| Date | Level | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 1998 | 33.73 ft | 25,100 cfs |
| Apr 2, 1958 | 33.11 ft | 23,500 cfs |
| Dec 23, 1955 | 32.46 ft | 24,000 cfs |
More on Pajaro River
DownstreamPajaro River at Watsonville ↗
Get an alert when Pajaro River rises
Save this gauge in the free StormCast app and pick the level that matters to you. Your phone goes off when the water gets there.
