Major Flood
15 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
13.5 ft
Minor Flood
11 ft
Action Stage
9 ft
What Floods at Each Level
16.5 ft
the Deschutes River will cause severe, near record flooding. Residences will be flooded with Tumwater valley deeply flooded. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Deschutes River Basin.
15 ft
the Deschutes River will cause major flooding...with swift and deep water flooding roads...farm lands...and the residential areas of Cougar Mountain...Driftwood Valley...Falling Horseshoe and areas downstream in the Tumwater Valley. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Deschutes River Basin.
13.5 ft
the Deschutes River will flood residential areas...especially Cougar Mountain...Driftwood Valley...and Falling Horseshoe. Downstream flooding will occur in areas of Tumwater Valley including the golf course. Many roads and farm lands will also be flooded.
11 ft
the Deschutes River will flood downstream in Tumwater Valley including the golf course. Minor flooding will also occur in several residential areas...mainly Cougar Mountain and Driftwood Valley. Many roads and farm lands will also be flooded.
9 ft
the Deschutes River locally spills over its banks into low fields and forested lands, mainly along Vail Cutoff Road and Reichel Road (east of the town of Vail).
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 8, 1990 | 17.01 ft | 9,600 cfs |
| Feb 8, 1996 | 15.74 ft | 7,850 cfs |
| Jan 15, 1974 | 15.68 ft | 7,780 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
DSRW1
River
Deschutes River
County
Thurston, WA
Coordinates
46.8522°N, 122.6675°W
Get Flood Alerts for Deschutes 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 Deschutes River near Rainier?
The Deschutes River near Rainier gauge is maintained by USGS (site 12079000) 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 Deschutes River near Rainier?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Deschutes River near Rainier is 11 feet. Action stage begins at 9 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 13.5 feet, and major flooding at 15 feet.
How do I get alerts when Deschutes River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Deschutes River near Rainier 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 Deschutes River near Rainier gauge located?
The gauge is located in Thurston County, Washington at coordinates 46.8522°N, 122.6675°W. USGS site number: 12079000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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 and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.