Major Flood
25 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
23.33 ft
Minor Flood
20.55 ft
Action Stage
18 ft
What Floods at Each Level
25 ft
Major Flooding. Flows are above the upper limits of the rating curve, but likely near 20,000cfs. More widespread flooding in the benchlands adjacent to the County buildings expected, although flows will still remain below levee top elevations.
23.33 ft
Moderate Flooding. (~15,000 cfs) Salz Tanner/Tannery Arts Center and Central Home Supply will become more heavily flooded, as well as some low lying areas off of Ocean Street extension. Flooding of benchlands adjacent to the Santa Cruz County buildings, the Boardwalk, and Beach Flats near the river. Drainage problems and flooding along East Cliff Drive and Murray Street near the river. Major flooding at Paradise Park. NWS will issue a Flash Flood Warning, if not yet already issued.
20.55 ft
Minor Flooding. At 20.55 feet, discharge is approximately 10,000 cfs. Minor flooding in Salz Tannery/Tannery Arts Center and Central Home Supply, and along the Santa Cruz Riverwalk trail beneath Highway 1. Benchlands next to the Santa Cruz County buildings may begin to flood, and problematic flooding and drainage issues may begin in the lowermost reaches of the river floodplain near the Boardwalk and Beach Flats area. Paradise Park begins to flood. NWS will issue an Urban/Small Stream Advisory.
18 ft
Monitor Stage. Stage can rise rapidly on the San Lorenzo River, up to several feet per hour. Level is roughly equivalent to 15 feet stage at the Big Trees gage in Felton, which is 1.5 feet below the flood stage at the Big Trees gage for Paradise Park flooding. NWS may issue a Flash Flood Watch for Santa Cruz area flooding, if not yet already issued.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
LRRC1
River
San Lorenzo River (CA)
County
Santa Cruz, CA
Coordinates
36.9908°N, 122.0319°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 Santa Cruz?
The San Lorenzo River (CA) at Santa Cruz gauge is maintained by USGS (site 11161000) 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 Santa Cruz?
The NWS-defined flood stage for San Lorenzo River (CA) at Santa Cruz is 20.55 feet. Action stage begins at 18 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 23.33 feet, and major flooding at 25 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz gauge located?
The gauge is located in Santa Cruz County, California at coordinates 36.9908°N, 122.0319°W. USGS site number: 11161000. 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 Big Trees
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey