Colorado River (TX) at Columbus
Texas — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Colorado County, Texas on the Colorado River (TX). Live water level data from USGS gauge 08161000, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
43 ft
Moderate Flood
39 ft
Minor Flood
34 ft
Action Stage
30 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
48 ft
At levels above 48.0 feet, flow escapes into the right floodplain near Columbus with widespread flooding of crop and pasture land downstream near Eagle Lake. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 in Columbus and FM 950 downstream of the gage were inundated and closed with many homes in the vicinity of the gage flooded.
47 ft
At levels above 47.0 feet, routed flow may overtop levees 110 miles downstream near Bay City. Significant flows will escape the channel near Garwood into the left floodplain with large volume loss as a large over bank storage area forms. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 in Columbus and FM 950 below the gage are inundated and closed with many homes near the gage flooded.
45 ft
At levels above 45.0 feet, major flooding of crop and pasture land downstream near Eagle Lake occurs. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 near Columbus was closed with many homes flooded, and FM 950 below the gage is closed.
43 ft
At levels above 43.0 feet, major lowland flooding occurs as U.S. Highway 90 floods. In past floods, many homes in the area flooded. FM 950 downstream from the gage is flooded.
41.3 ft
At levels above 41.3 feet, widespread flooding of the left floodplain occurs. In past floods, some homes near U.S. Highway 90 had up to 2 feet of water in them, and FM 950 downstream from the gage was inundated and closed.
39 ft
At levels above 39.0 feet, moderate lowland flooding begins as water from Columbus routes to near 18.0 feet downstream near Eagle Lake and Garwood closing FM 950 with significant lowland flooding.
34 ft
At levels above 34.0 feet, minor lowland flooding begins as the floodplain in the vicinity of the gage is inundated.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 25, 1938 | 48.4 ft | — |
| Jul 25, 1938 | 48.4 ft | — |
| Aug 29, 2017 | 48.17 ft | 165,000 cfs |
| Aug 29, 2017 | 48.17 ft | 165,000 cfs |
| Jun 30, 1940 | 46.2 ft | 152,000 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
CBST2
River
Colorado River (TX)
County
Colorado, TX
Coordinates
29.7061°N, 96.5367°W
Get Flood Alerts for Colorado River (TX)
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 Colorado River (TX) at Columbus?
The Colorado River (TX) at Columbus gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08161000) 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 Colorado River (TX) at Columbus?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Colorado River (TX) at Columbus is 34 feet. Action stage begins at 30 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 39 feet, and major flooding at 43 feet.
How do I get alerts when Colorado River (TX) rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Colorado River (TX) at Columbus to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Colorado River (TX) at Columbus gauge located?
The gauge is located in Colorado County, Texas at coordinates 29.7061°N, 96.5367°W. USGS site number: 08161000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.