Gunpowder Falls at Parkton
Maryland · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 01581920 — GUNPOWDER FALLS NEAR PARKTON, MD · NWS forecast point PKTM2
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 158 CFS, this gauge is running 223% of normal for late July — above the 71 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 26 years of record (2000–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Parkton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge PKTM2, issued by WFO LWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Falls Road is flooded at the gauge site.
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Moderate flood 11.0 ft
- 11.0 ft Water approaches homes along Falls Road between Monkton and Corbett.
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Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Masemore Road floods.
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Action 8.0 ft
- Right now 2.19 ft
12 months of flow at Parkton
Daily values from USGS gauge 01581920. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Parkton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.62 ft | 9,000 CFS | Sep 8, 2011 |
| 9.77 ft | 2,940 CFS | Oct 30, 2012 |
| 9.66 ft | 2,980 CFS | Jul 26, 2018 |
| 7.54 ft | 1,800 CFS | Apr 30, 2014 |
| 7.51 ft | 1,810 CFS | Aug 29, 2009 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Gunpowder Falls at Parkton
This gauge measures Gunpowder Falls at Parkton, Maryland — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Prettyboy tailwater; Maryland's premier wild-brown water.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 71 CFS for late July, from 26 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.
Gunpowder Falls at Parkton — common questions
What is the current flow on Gunpowder Falls at Parkton?
As of the last reading on this page, Gunpowder Falls at Parkton was running 158 CFS at a gage height of 2.19 ft, or 223% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01581920, 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 71 CFS, calculated from 26 years of record (2000–2026). 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.
Is Gunpowder Falls at Parkton wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 71 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 01581920. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge PKTM2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.