Chena River at Fairbanks water level

Name: Chena River at Fairbanks water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Chena River, Alaska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.33ft Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 05:15 AM AKDT (35 min ago)

Flow: 2,460 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Chena River at Fairbanks, where the gauge shows 2.33 ft.

It is 9.67 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.13 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 2.31 ft – 2.60 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: 10.78 ftMay 11, 1972

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 12.00 ft.

What happens at each level

7.65 ft: At 7.65 there is 5 feet of clearance under the Barnette St Bridge Based on measurements 5/25/2018
2.33 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	10.78 ft	May 11, 1972
2	10.63 ft	May 15, 1975
3	10.15 ft	May 8, 1991
4	10.08 ft	May 27, 1992
5	9.94 ft	July 5, 2014
6	9.77 ft	May 21, 1971
7	9.75 ft	August 11, 1969
8	9.58 ft	July 30, 2003
9	9.50 ft	May 4, 1979
10	9.48 ft	August 2, 2016

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 08:57 AM Sunset 06:16 PM Daylight 9 hr, 19 min First quarter 59%

Map

Other gauges on the Chena River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Chena River near Two RiversRiver gauge, Chena River	16.30 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	40 mi
Chena River below Hunts Creek near Two RiversRiver gauge, Chena River	11.50 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	26 mi
Chena River below Moose C DamRiver gauge, Chena River	17.71 ft	Below flood stage	−0.07 ft	14 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Tanana River at FairbanksRiver gauge, Tanana River	18.34 ft	No reference yet		5.5 mi
Lake Chena River near FairbanksRiver gauge, Lake Chena River	13.65 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	14 mi
Fish Creek below Solo Creek near ChatanikaLake, Fish Creek	25.02 ft	Normal	±0	19 mi
Salcha River near SalchaketRiver gauge, Salcha River	7.10 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	35 mi
Tanana River at NenanaRiver gauge, Tanana River	3.49 ft	Below flood stage	−0.12 ft	45 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Chena River at Fairbanks?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 9.67 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 Chena River at Fairbanks today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 05:15 AM AKDT, the water level was 2.33 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Chena River at Fairbanks rising or falling?

Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Chena River at Fairbanks normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Chena River at Fairbanks?

The highest level on record is 10.78 ft on May 11, 1972.

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:15514000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 64.84539, -147.70357 (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	2.33 ft	2026-10-19 13:15	Provisional
Flow	2,460 cfs	2026-10-19 13:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Chena River at Fairbanks (usgs:15514000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alaska/chena-river-at-fairbanks

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