Llano River at Llano
Texas · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 08151500 — Llano Rv at Llano, TX · NWS forecast point LLAT2
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
Very high — big-water conditions well above the seasonal norm
At 465 CFS, this gauge is running 646% of normal for late July — above the 72 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1939–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Llano
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge LLAT2, issued by WFO EWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 23.0 ft
- 23.0 ft Major lowland flooding makes primary and secondary roads and low bridges near the river and tributaries dangerous. Boats and docks are severely inundated downstream near and in Kingsland. Lowest resorts near the Llano River mouth in Kingsland flood.
- 26.0 ft Major flooding will threaten lowest homes from upstream near Castell to below Llano. Major damage will occur downsteam in Kingsland to boats and docks. Secondary and primary roads and bridges in the flood plain will be extremely dangerous to motorists. Lowest homes and businesses in the Highland Lakes below Kingsland will be flooded.
- 30.0 ft Disastrous flooding will reach lowest residences below Castell to below Llano. Flow will be to the slab of the city of Llano water treatment plant on the right bank just above Highway 16. Numerous resorts at Kingsland and in Lake LBJ will have severe flood damage. Boats, docks and facilities lining the lower Llano and Lake LBJ near Kingsland may be severely damaged or destroyed.
- 32.0 ft Disastrous flooding well into the flood plain will cut off and potentially drown thousands of livestock. Homes, resorts, commercial buildings, boats, docks and marinas will flood disastrously above Castell to Marble Falls on Lake LBJ. Roads and bridges near the river will be severely flooded and dangerous to motorists. Exceeds the USGS 1:25 year flood.
- 36.0 ft Disastrous life threatening flooding will damage numerous homes and businesses above Castell to Lake LBJ. Numerous resorts at and below Kingsland near the Llano River mouth will flood severely. Boats, docks and any gear that isn't removed from the river will be destroyed. Lower homes on Lake Travis flood severely. Flow exceeds the USGS 1:50 year flood level.
- 38.0 ft Robinson City Park in Llano will flood. Many homes in Scotts Acres on south side of Llano will be severely damaged and lowest mobile homes destroyed in water up to 6 feet, some washing downstream. Many homes near Castell to below Llano will be damaged. The FM 2900 bridge in Kingsland will flood. Much of Kingsland Lodge in Kingsland will be destroyed. Many homes downstream in Marble Falls will flood as flow backs up Backbone Creek.
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Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding makes secondary roads and low bridges in the flood plain dangerous to motorists including the low water crossing of Ranch Road 3404/Slab Road near Kingsland. Equipment should be moved from low docks and boat ties loosened downstream in Kingsland.
- 16.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding threatens docks and boats in the flood plain downstream in Kingsland. Secondary roads and bridges will be flooded and dangerous to motorists. Flow exceeds the USGS 1:2 year flood level.
- 20.0 ft Flow will be damaging to docks and boats downstream in Kingsland. The lowest secondary roads and bridges will be severely flooded and dangerous. Near the USGS 1:5 year flood level.
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Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Minor lowland flooding can swamp boats in the lower Llano River in Kingsland.
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Action 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Minor lowland flooding can swamp boats in the lower Llano River in Kingsland.
- Right now 3.08 ft
12 months of flow at Llano
Daily values from USGS gauge 08151500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Llano
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 41.50 ft | 380,000 CFS | Jun 14, 1935 |
| 40.14 ft | 278,000 CFS | Oct 16, 2018 |
| 39.10 ft | 260,000 CFS | Jun 23, 1997 |
| 32.60 ft | 232,000 CFS | Sep 10, 1952 |
| 28.65 ft | — | Nov 4, 2000 |
| 27.07 ft | 132,000 CFS | Jul 4, 2025 |
| 22.07 ft | 88,215 CFS | Nov 17, 2004 |
| 20.51 ft | 83,700 CFS | Feb 4, 1992 |
| 20.50 ft | 75,916 CFS | Jun 27, 2007 |
| 20.30 ft | — | Jul 16, 2026 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Llano River at Llano
This gauge measures Llano River at Llano, Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Castell slabs are flow-critical; 2018 flood history.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 72 CFS for late July, from 86 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.
Llano River at Llano — common questions
What is the current flow on Llano River at Llano?
As of the last reading on this page, Llano River at Llano was running 465 CFS at a gage height of 3.08 ft, or 646% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08151500, 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 72 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1939–2026). 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 08151500, 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 LLAT2.