Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett water level

Name: Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett 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, Saco River, New Hampshire, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.85ft Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 08:45 PM EDT (45 min ago)

Flow: 78.8 cfs
Water temperature: 48 °F

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett is at 2.85 ft, in the normal range.

It is 7.15 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.

It has dropped 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.85 ft and 3.34 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 48 °F.

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

Key numbers

Highest on record: 14.83 ftAugust 28, 2011

Floating and fishing near Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett

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

Flood stage here is 10.00 ft, 7.15 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

14.80 ft: Extremely severe flooding comparable to the flooding from Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. Numerous homes and businesses from Bartlett to North Conway damaged by water depths of several feet. Rural lands and roads along the Saco River are inundated and damaged by swift currents. Hundreds of homes inaccessible due to floodwaters.
13.50 ft: Flood inundation near the FEMA 0.2 percent flood hazard level.
13.00 ft: Severe Flooding on River Street, upper West Side Road, and Cobb Farm Road in Bartlett. Flood waters affect propertly along Route 302 and Covered Bridge in Bartlett. River Road First Bridge in North Conway flooded. Inundation near the FEMA 1 percent flood hazard level.
12.50 ft: Moderate flooding to homes on River Street in Bartlett. Homes along Sleepy Hollow Road in Glen flooded. Flood waters encroach on properties off Pine Glen Road and Bartlett Place Road. Backwater on the Rocky Branch impacts properties off Sleepy Hollow Road. Significant flooding expected downstream in North Conway.
12.00 ft: Minor flooding occurs on River Street. Flood waters approach properties on Cobb Farm Road.
10.00 ft: Minor flooding to properties along River Street in Bartlett. Significant flooding likely along downstream campgrounds from Glen Ellis, North Conway, and Conway.
9.00 ft: River out of banks in Bartlett. Backwater on the Ellis River combined with the Saco River high flows will inundate campground property in Glen Ellis.
6.00 ft: Downstream riverside campgrounds from Glen Ellis to Conway flooded hours later. Campers should move to higher ground.
5.00 ft: High streamflows are expected but no flooding occurs in Bartlett. High risk for recreational paddlers.
2.85 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	14.83 ft	August 28, 2011
2	13.93 ft	October 30, 2017
3	13.87 ft	December 18, 2023
4	10.66 ft	May 1, 2023
5	9.85 ft	April 15, 2014
6	9.10 ft	October 30, 2012
7	8.78 ft	July 2, 2017

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:08 AM Sunset 05:53 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 73%

Map

Other gauges on the Saco River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Saco River near ConwayRiver gauge, Saco River	2.69 ft	Below flood stage	−0.07 ft	12 mi
Saco River at Cornish, MaineRiver gauge, Saco River	3.24 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	31 mi
Saco River at Camp Ellis near Saco, MaineEstuary gauge, Saco River	2.35 ft	No reference yet	+2.82 ft	62 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Bearcamp River at South TamworthRiver gauge, Bearcamp River	32.4 cfs	Low	−5.2 cfs	18 mi
East Branch Pemigewasset River at LincolnRiver gauge, East Branch Pemigewasset River	126 cfs	Normal	−19.0 cfs	19 mi
Pemigewasset River at WoodstockRiver gauge, Pemigewasset River	2.62 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	21 mi
Peabody River at Gorham, New HampshireRiver gauge, Peabody River	57.9 cfs	Normal	−5.2 cfs	21 mi
Ammonoosuc River at Bethlehem JunctionRiver gauge, Ammonoosuc River	1.62 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	21 mi
Androscoggin River near GorhamRiver gauge, Androscoggin River	2.97 ft	Below flood stage	+0.04 ft	25 mi
Wild River at Gilead, MaineRiver gauge, Wild River	43.1 cfs	Low	−13.4 cfs	26 mi
Pemigewasset River at PlymouthRiver gauge, Pemigewasset River	0.97 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	30 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett?

The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 7.15 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 Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 08:45 PM EDT, the water level was 2.85 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett rising or falling?

Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett?

The highest level on record is 14.83 ft on August 28, 2011.

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:010642505 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 44.08389, -71.28556 (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	2.85 ft	2026-10-21 00:45	Provisional
Flow	78.8 cfs	2026-10-21 00:45	Provisional
Water temperature	48 °F	2026-10-21 00:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Saco River at River Street, at Bartlett (usgs:010642505). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-hampshire/saco-river-at-river-street-at-bartlett

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