Colorado River at Austin
Texas · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 08158000 — Colorado Rv at Austin, TX · NWS forecast point ACRT2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:50 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 104 CFS, this gauge is running 7% of normal for late July — below the 1,470 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 128 years of record (1898–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Austin
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge ACRT2, issued by WFO EWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 42.0 ft
- 42.0 ft Major flooding approaches the lowest residences along the Colorado River below Del Valle. Residences in the lower reach of Onion Creek are vulnerable to flooding as the Colorado River backs up the creek and adds to runoff down Onion Creek. Livestock and equipment should be moved from the flood plain below Austin to Bastrop. Lowest homes flood near Webberville.
- 44.0 ft Major flooding approaches homes in the flood plain below Del Valle to Bastrop. Equipment and livestock should be moved from the flood plain to below Bastrop. Secondary and primary roads and bridges are flooded severely and very dangerous to motorists.
- 46.0 ft Several homes flood in the Colorado River flood plain below Del Valle to Bastrop and along Onion Creek above the Colorado River confluence are severely flooded. Numerous streets and roads are extremely dangerous. Major flooding extends well into the flood plain destroying equipment and livestock.
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Moderate flood 38.0 ft
- 38.0 ft Moderate flooding approaches the Colorado River ranchettes in the southwest quadrant of the confluence of the Colorado River and Dry Creek. Lowest homes downstream below Austin flood. Livestock should be moved from vulnerable areas of the flood plain.
- 40.0 ft Lowest homes in the flood plain below Longhorn Dam to above Bastrop Flood. Livestock and equipment should be moved from low areas of the flood plain below Lake Travis to below Bastrop. Roads and low bridges in the flood plain flood severely and are dangerous to motorists.
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Minor flood 33.0 ft
- 33.0 ft Minor lowland flooding reaches low areas of the flood plain. No significant damage occurs at this level near Austin but livestock should be moved from low lying areas downstream. Lowest homes below Austin to Bastrop are threatened.
- 35.0 ft Lowest homes and apartments near the Colorado River and the lower part of Onion Creek are threatened. Residents should monitor NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio for developing flood warnings. Livestock can be cut off in low areas below Austin. Lowest homes below Austin to Bastrop flood.
- 36.0 ft Several homes are threatened as the Colorado River backs up Onion Creek. Any additional flooding down onion creek may flood homes near the confluence with the Colorado River. Livestock should be moved from vulnerable areas of the flood plain below Austin. Lowest homes below Austin flood.
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Action 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft Flow exceeds the lowest sections of the banks.
- 27.0 ft Flow is in the lowest sections of the flood plain.
- 29.0 ft Flow is into the lowest sections of the flood plain.
- 31.0 ft Flow is well into the flood plain below Lake Travis downstream. Livestock should be moved from low areas of the flood plain downstream below Austin.
- Right now 11.89 ft
NWS forecast: 11.80 ft by Jul 29, 1:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Austin
Daily values from USGS gauge 08158000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Austin
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 51.00 ft | 550,000 CFS | Jul 7, 1869 |
| 50.00 ft | 481,000 CFS | Jun 15, 1935 |
| 45.20 ft | 276,000 CFS | Jul 25, 1938 |
| 43.50 ft | 236,000 CFS | Apr 7, 1900 |
| 43.20 ft | 234,000 CFS | Sep 28, 1936 |
| 42.60 ft | 164,000 CFS | Dec 4, 1913 |
| 42.40 ft | 154,000 CFS | May 29, 1929 |
| 39.00 ft | 120,000 CFS | May 1, 1922 |
| 38.40 ft | 113,000 CFS | Jun 8, 1899 |
| 34.09 ft | 34,400 CFS | May 26, 2015 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Colorado River at Austin
This gauge measures Colorado River at Austin, Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Lady Bird Lake below Longhorn Dam.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,470 CFS for late July, from 128 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Colorado River at Austin — common questions
What is the current flow on Colorado River at Austin?
As of the last reading on this page, Colorado River at Austin was running 104 CFS at a gage height of 11.89 ft, or 7% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08158000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 1,470 CFS, calculated from 128 years of record (1898–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 08158000, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge ACRT2.