Major Flood
12.5 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
11.5 ft
Minor Flood
10.5 ft
Action Stage
9.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
13.5 ft
Disastrous flooding all along Upper Truckee River with major damage to homes, businesses, roads and bridges. Similar to flood of Jan. 2, 1997. Approximately 5500 cfs with about a 1 in 75 chance of occurring any year.
12.5 ft
Major flooding along Upper Truckee River from Meyers to South Lake Tahoe with significant damage to roads, bridges, homes and businesses. Approx. 3000 cfs. About a 1 in 20 chance of occurring any year.
11.5 ft
Moderate flooding along Upper Truckee River in Meyers and South Lake Tahoe. About 2100 cfs. About a 1 in 10 chance of occurring any year.
10.5 ft
Flood Stage, with minor flooding along Upper Truckee River. About 1450 cfs. About a 1 in 5 chance of occurring any year.
9.5 ft
Monitor Stage, about 1000 cfs. No flooding. About a 1 in 3 chance of occurring any year.
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 1, 1997 | 18 ft | 5,480 cfs |
| Dec 30, 2005 | 13.09 ft | 2,850 cfs |
| Mar 7, 1986 | 12.89 ft | 2,740 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
UTRC1
River
Upper Truckee River
County
El Dorado, CA
Coordinates
38.9224°N, 119.9916°W
Get Flood Alerts for Upper Truckee 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 Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe?
The Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe gauge is maintained by USGS (site 10336610) 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 Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe is 10.5 feet. Action stage begins at 9.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11.5 feet, and major flooding at 12.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Upper Truckee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe 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 Upper Truckee River at South Lake Tahoe gauge located?
The gauge is located in El Dorado County, California at coordinates 38.9224°N, 119.9916°W. USGS site number: 10336610. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Upper Truckee River
On This River
Upstream: Upper Truckee River above Meyers
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.
- Reported historic crests have been estimated using recent ratings due to previous channel, location and/or datum changes. USGS observed crests can be found at: waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt Please also see Additional Information tab at the bottom of this page.