Pajaro R A Chittenden water level

Name: Pajaro R A Chittenden 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, California, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.21ft Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 07:30 PM PDT (26 min ago)

Flow: 6.6 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.24 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 PM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 06:40 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

Pajaro R A Chittenden is at 2.21 ft, in the normal range.

It is 21.89 ft below the flood stage of 24.10 ft.

It has dropped 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.24 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 PM. In the last month it has stayed between 2.18 ft and 2.25 ft.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 33.73 ftFebruary 3, 1998
Forecast peak: 2.28 ftFriday, October 23 at 06:00 PM

Floating and fishing near Pajaro R A Chittenden

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 24.10 ft, 21.89 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

33.73 ft: Stage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs
29.00 ft: Levees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro at risk of failure. Flooding throughout the Pajaro Valley.
27.10 ft: Major Flood Stage. Levees protecting Pajaro at risk of overtopping at lowest points or severely strained if sandbagged. Seepage likely throughout the levee system.
25.10 ft: Water levels within 2 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro.
24.10 ft: Minor Flood Stage. Water levels within 3 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro. Increased potential for seepage through levee at vulnerable locations.
22.00 ft: Action Stage. Water beginning to rise onto levee slopes.
2.21 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	33.73 ft	February 3, 1998
2	32.20 ft	March 11, 1995
3	29.53 ft	January 3, 1997
4	29.11 ft	March 11, 2023
5	27.66 ft	January 10, 2023
6	26.98 ft	February 21, 2017
7	25.78 ft	January 17, 2023
8	24.85 ft	January 14, 1993
9	23.88 ft	March 23, 1995
10	22.90 ft	March 25, 2011

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:19 AM Sunset 06:24 PM Daylight 11 hr, 5 min First quarter 64%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Llagas Creek near GilroyRiver gauge, Llagas Creek	0.6 cfs	Normal	+0.1 cfs	7 mi
Salsipuedes Creek near WatsonvilleRiver gauge, Salsipuedes Creek	2.2 cfs	Very high	+2.2 cfs	8 mi
Pajaro R A WatsonvilleRiver gauge	1.5 cfs	Normal	−0.8 cfs	9 mi
Corralitos C A FreedomRiver gauge	0.0 cfs	Low	±0	10 mi
Pacheco Creek near DunnevilleRiver gauge, Pacheco Creek	0.0 cfs	Normal	±0	13 mi
Reclamation Ditch near SalinasCanal gauge, Reclamation Ditch	0.6 cfs	Very low	+0.1 cfs	15 mi
Aptos Creek near AptosRiver gauge, Aptos Creek	0.8 cfs	Low	±0	18 mi
Coyote Creek near MadroneRiver gauge, Coyote Creek	2.35 ft	Below flood stage	+0.32 ft	19 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for Pajaro R A Chittenden?

The official flood stage is 24.10 ft. The level is currently 21.89 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 Pajaro R A Chittenden today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 07:30 PM PDT, the water level was 2.21 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Pajaro R A Chittenden rising or falling?

Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Pajaro R A Chittenden normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pajaro R A Chittenden?

The highest level on record is 33.73 ft on February 3, 1998.

Is Pajaro R A Chittenden expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.24 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 PM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:11159000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 36.90019, -121.59768 (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	2.21 ft	2026-10-20 02:30	Provisional
Flow	6.6 cfs	2026-10-20 02:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Pajaro R A Chittenden (usgs:11159000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/california/pajaro-r-a-chittenden

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