Major Flood
22 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
18 ft
Minor Flood
15 ft
Action Stage
9 ft
What Floods at Each Level
22 ft
the canyon reaches major flood stage, and begins flooding residences and businesses in the vicinity of Canal Street and Dark Canyon Draw in Carlsbad begins. U.S. Highway 285 (Canal Street) is likely to flood, and numerous other city streets will be inundated.
18 ft
the canyon reaches moderate flood stage. A few residences and businesses nearest to the bank near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge (Canal Street) in Carlsbad begin to flood.
15 ft
the canyon reaches minor flood stage, with banks near capacity near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge in Carlsbad. Water is likely to reach the railroad bridge just downstream from the highway bridge. Water should remain under the highway bridge, but numerous city and outlying roads will flood, primarily upstream. Individuals near the Canal Street bridge should be alert to rising water under the bridge.
9 ft
the canyon reaches bankfull, and banks will begin to overflow about 1 mile upstream from the U.S. Highway 285 bridge around San Jose Blvd and Fiesta Drive in Carlsbad. Several secondary roads and a few city streets will likely flood and become impassable.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 1966 | 22 ft | 66,000 cfs |
| Sep 22, 2014 | 21.62 ft | 92,712 cfs |
| Apr 4, 2004 | 20.45 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Dark Canyon
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 Dark Canyon at Carlsbad?
The Dark Canyon at Carlsbad gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08405150) 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 Dark Canyon at Carlsbad?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Dark Canyon at Carlsbad is 15 feet. Action stage begins at 9 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 22 feet.
How do I get alerts when Dark Canyon rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Dark Canyon at Carlsbad 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 Dark Canyon at Carlsbad gauge located?
The gauge is located in Eddy County, New Mexico at coordinates 32.4033°N, 104.2294°W. USGS site number: 08405150. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
Upstream: Dark Canyon 8 miles N of Whites City
Downstream: Pecos River 2 miles E of Carlsbad below Dark Canyon
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 12 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.