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SwedenPecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad water level
River gauge, Pecos River, New Mexico, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 120 cfs
History
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad, where the gauge shows 1.66 ft.
It is 18.34 ft below the flood stage of 20.00 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.64 ft – 1.66 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 18.04 ftOctober 20, 1969
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 20.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- the river reaches moderate flood stage, and continues flooding rangeland. No other flood threats are known. However, flood flows will impact Lake Avalon and Carlsbad just downstream.
- 20.00 ft
- the river reaches minor flood stage, and begins to flood rangeland. No other threats are known.
- 1.66 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18.04 ft | October 20, 1969 |
| 2 | 17.80 ft | September 22, 2014 |
| 3 | 16.42 ft | June 24, 1986 |
| 4 | 15.43 ft | August 10, 1984 |
| 5 | 13.40 ft | September 23, 1974 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Pecos River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecos River near DunlapRiver gauge, Pecos River | 52.3 cfs | Normal | −72.7 cfs | 107 mi |
| Pecos River near AcmeRiver gauge, Pecos River | 4.61 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 73 mi |
| Pecos River near Lake ArthurRiver gauge, Pecos River | 4.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 33 mi |
| Pecos River near ArtesiaRiver gauge, Pecos River | 2.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 23 mi |
| Pecos River below Brantley Dam near CarlsbadRiver gauge, Pecos River | 108 cfs | Normal | +1.0 cfs | 3.1 mi |
| Pecos River below Avalon DamRiver gauge, Pecos River | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 4.6 mi |
| Pecos River below Dark Canyon at CarlsbadRiver gauge, Pecos River | 0.89 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Pecos River near MalagaRiver gauge, Pecos River | 2.77 ft | Below flood stage | +0.13 ft | 28 mi |
| Pecos River at Pierce Canyon CrossingRiver gauge, Pecos River | 82.0 cfs | Normal | +16.5 cfs | 30 mi |
| Pecos River at Red BluffRiver gauge, Pecos River | 3.40 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 35 mi |
| Pecos River near OrlaRiver gauge, Pecos River | 5.47 ft | Very high | −0.02 ft | 53 mi |
| Pecos River at FM 3398 near PecosRiver gauge, Pecos River | 2.60 ft | Low | ±0 | 86 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Arroyo at Highway Brd near CarlsbadRiver gauge, Rocky Arroyo | 3.22 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.5 mi |
| Brantley ReservoirReservoir | 3,254.39 ft | High | 3.6 mi | |
| Carlsbad Main Canal at Head near CarlsbadCanal gauge, Carlsbad Main Canal | 226 cfs | Very high | +37.0 cfs | 4.9 mi |
| Avalon ReservoirReservoir | 3,175.02 ft | High | 4.9 mi | |
| Dark Canyon at CarlsbadRiver gauge, Dark Canyon | 4.35 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Fourmile Draw near LakewoodRiver gauge, Fourmile Draw | 2.21 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Pecos River (Kaiser Channel) near LakewoodRiver gauge, Pecos River (Kaiser Channel) | 9.44 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 12 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad?
The official flood stage is 20.00 ft. The level is currently 18.34 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 AM MDT, the water level was 1.66 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad?
The highest level on record is 18.04 ft on October 20, 1969.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:08402000(Agency page)- Coordinates
32.51123, -104.33329(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 1.66 ft | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 120 cfs | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Pecos River at Damsite 3 near Carlsbad (usgs:08402000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-mexico/pecos-river-at-damsite-3-near-carlsbad
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer