Peace River at Arcadia
Florida · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 02296750 — PEACE RIVER AT SR 70 AT ARCADIA, FL · NWS forecast point ARCF1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 132 CFS, this gauge is running 12% of normal for late July — below the 1,090 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 94 years of record (1932–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Arcadia
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge ARCF1, issued by WFO TBW. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Up to 60 homes at River Acres are flooded. The Woman's Club and American Legion are impacted.
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Moderate flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Peace River Campground floods and 6 homes at River Acres are impacted.
- 15.0 ft River Acres is impacted.
- 15.5 ft 25 homes at River Acres are impacted.
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Minor flood 11.0 ft
- 11.0 ft Access roads to river acres become flooded.
- 12.0 ft The Girl Scout camp floods.
- 13.0 ft Peace River Estates floods affecting several dozen homes.
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Action 9.0 ft
- 10.0 ft 3 to 4 homes in the river acres subdivision flood and the lowest portion of the girl scout camp floods.
- Right now 0.96 ft
12 months of flow at Arcadia
Daily values from USGS gauge 02296750. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Arcadia
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 23.70 ft | 50,800 CFS | Oct 1, 2022 |
| 20.55 ft | 43,000 CFS | Jan 1, 1912 |
| 19.92 ft | 36,200 CFS | Sep 9, 1933 |
| 19.20 ft | 23,183 CFS | Sep 15, 2017 |
| 18.74 ft | 26,500 CFS | Aug 31, 1949 |
| 18.68 ft | 23,900 CFS | Sep 22, 1947 |
| 18.14 ft | 18,800 CFS | Mar 23, 1998 |
| 18.05 ft | 21,000 CFS | Sep 15, 1960 |
| 17.95 ft | 21,200 CFS | Sep 16, 2001 |
| 17.95 ft | 21,000 CFS | Aug 3, 1960 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Peace River at Arcadia
This gauge measures Peace River at Arcadia, Florida — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Canoe Outpost; fossil hunters need under 1 ft.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,090 CFS for late July, from 94 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.
Peace River at Arcadia — common questions
What is the current flow on Peace River at Arcadia?
As of the last reading on this page, Peace River at Arcadia was running 132 CFS at a gage height of 0.96 ft, or 12% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02296750, 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 1,090 CFS, calculated from 94 years of record (1932–2026). 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 02296750, 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 ARCF1.