Guadalupe River at Gruene
Texas · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 08169500 — Guadalupe Rv at New Braunfels, TX · NWS forecast point GBCT2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At — CFS, this gauge is running 102% of normal for late July — close to the 9.6 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 23 years of record (2001–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Gruene
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge GBCT2, issued by WFO EWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Major flooding reaches lowest homes in New Braunfels and downstream near Lakes Dunlap and McQueeney. River Road above New Braunfels is severely flooded and impassable in most areas. Sleeping campers, autos and gear on the banks can wash downstream. This is a life threatening situation.
- 24.0 ft Major flooding is extremely dangerous upstream along River Road to below New Braunfels. Homes and businesses flood in New Braunfels. RV parks and homes near the river on Lake Dunlap are threatened. Roads near the river below Canyon Dam to Lake Dunlap are very dangerous to motorists.
- 28.0 ft Disastrous flooding reaches many lowest homes in New Braunfels downstream to Seguin. River recreational areas are severely flooded and life threatening below Canyon Dam to Seguin. All roads near the river will become life threatening as the flood wave moves downstream.
- 32.0 ft The Guadalupe River in New Braunfels is life threatening with widespread residential flooding. There is very dangerous flooding of camps and facilities below Canyon Dam to below Seguin. River Road is under tens of feet of water in most areas, and flows are life threatening to campers along the river.
- 35.0 ft Widespread disastrous flooding washes homes downstream in New Braunfels and Seguin. Lowest homes along Lakes Dunlap and McQueeney will flood severely. Flooding is life threatening along river road above New Braunfels. Many secondary and primary roads are impassable and people are cut off.
- 38.0 ft Life threatening, extremely dangerous flooding below Canyon Dam to below Gonzales causes widespread residential and commercial flooding with the potential to drown people. Sleeping campers, autos and any gear along river road below Canyon Dam to above New Braunfels can be washed downstream.
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Moderate flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding closes several roads, streets and businesses in New Braunfels. Upstream River Road is extremely dangerous.
- 15.0 ft Moderate flooding threatens lowest homes in the Guadalupe river flood plain. Secondary roads, streets, and low bridges are flooded and dangerous. River Road above New Braunfels is widely flooded and very dangerous to motorists and campers.
- 17.0 ft River road is closed in several places between New Braunfels and Canyon Dam. Fast moving flow washes autos and gear on the banks downstream. Lowest homes in New Braunfels are threatened. The Common Street bridge in New Braunfels floods and many roads, streets, and bridges near the river are very dangerous to motorists. Lowest homes below I-35 near Lakes Dunlap and McQueeney are threatened.
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Minor flood 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Minor lowland flooding extends into the flood plain closing lowest roads and crossings near the river.
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Action 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Minor lowland flooding extends into the flood plain closing lowest roads and crossings near the river.
- Right now 9.71 ft
NWS forecast: 9.70 ft by Jul 29, 1:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Gruene
Daily values from USGS gauge 08169500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Gruene
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 39.50 ft | — | Dec 13, 1913 |
| 39.50 ft | 56,600 CFS | Aug 8, 1869 |
| 38.54 ft | 222,000 CFS | Oct 17, 1998 |
| 36.55 ft | 60,800 CFS | May 11, 1972 |
| 35.00 ft | — | Jun 15, 1935 |
| 33.50 ft | — | Jul 3, 1932 |
| 32.00 ft | — | Sep 10, 1952 |
| 29.65 ft | — | Jun 9, 2010 |
| 28.60 ft | 56,600 CFS | Sep 10, 1921 |
| 27.20 ft | 51,300 CFS | Sep 17, 1915 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Guadalupe River at Gruene
This gauge measures Guadalupe River at Gruene, Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Gruene outfitter corridor below Sattler.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 9.6 CFS for late July, from 23 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.
Guadalupe River at Gruene — common questions
What is the current flow on Guadalupe River at Gruene?
The live reading comes from USGS gauge 08169500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes. The current value is shown at the top of this page.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 9.6 CFS, calculated from 23 years of record (2001–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Guadalupe River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.