Major Flood
21.76 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
19.5 ft
Minor Flood
16.5 ft
Action Stage
14 ft
What Floods at Each Level
21.76 ft
Major Flooding. At approximately 21.76 feet discharge in the San Lorenzo River is approximately 15,000 cfs. Major flooding in the Felton Grove neighborhood occurs at this stage, with roadways several feet deep and waters inundating the approaches to the Felton Covered Bridge. Felton Covered Bridge Park begins to experience widespread flooding at shallow depths. At 15,000 cfs, the City of Santa Cruz downstream will experience more serious flooding. The flood wave may take 2-3 hours to reach Santa Cruz.
19.5 ft
Moderate Flooding. The St. Bernard Street area in Paradise Park is under several feet of water, with below grade floodplain infrastructure several feet deeper. St. Augustine Avenue neighborhood in Paradise Park begins to flood. Flooding imminent or already occurring in the Felton Grove neighborhood. Ground stories, first floors, and garages flooded. Felton Covered Bridge Park begins to flood.
16.5 ft
Minor Flooding. Flooding is either imminent or already occurring in Paradise Park, with initial flooding in the St. Bernard Street area.
14 ft
Monitor Stage. Stage can rise rapidly on the San Lorenzo River, up to several feet per hour. Approximately 2.5 feet below flood levels in Paradise Park and approximately 5.5 feet below flood stage in Felton Grove.
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 4, 1982 | 28.85 ft | 29,700 cfs |
| Jan 9, 2023 | 24.54 ft | 20,500 cfs |
| Feb 7, 2017 | 24.1 ft | 19,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
BTEC1
River
San Lorenzo River (CA)
County
Santa Cruz, CA
Coordinates
37.0444°N, 122.0725°W
Get Flood Alerts for San Lorenzo River (CA)
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 San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees?
The San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees gauge is maintained by USGS (site 11160500) 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 San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees?
The NWS-defined flood stage for San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees is 16.5 feet. Action stage begins at 14 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 19.5 feet, and major flooding at 21.76 feet.
How do I get alerts when San Lorenzo River (CA) rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees 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 San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees gauge located?
The gauge is located in Santa Cruz County, California at coordinates 37.0444°N, 122.0725°W. USGS site number: 11160500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on San Lorenzo River (CA)
On This River
Upstream: San Lorenzo River (CA) at Lomond Street Bridge
Downstream: San Lorenzo River (CA) at Santa Cruz
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey