Russian River at Guerneville
California · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 11467000 — RUSSIAN R A HACIENDA BRIDGE NR GUERNEVILLE CA · NWS forecast point RIOC1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 123 CFS, this gauge is running 79% of normal for late July — below the 156 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1940–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Guerneville
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge RIOC1, issued by WFO MTR. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Action 31.0 ft
- Right now 1.38 ft
NWS forecast: 1.33 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Guerneville
Daily values from USGS gauge 11467000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Guerneville
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 49.70 ft | 90,100 CFS | Dec 23, 1955 |
| 49.60 ft | 93,400 CFS | Dec 23, 1964 |
| 48.56 ft | 102,000 CFS | Feb 18, 1986 |
| 48.01 ft | 93,900 CFS | Jan 9, 1995 |
| 45.28 ft | 77,000 CFS | Jan 5, 1966 |
| 44.60 ft | 82,120 CFS | Jan 2, 1997 |
| 43.95 ft | 72,900 CFS | Jan 24, 1970 |
| 43.70 ft | 71,800 CFS | Feb 1, 1963 |
| 43.18 ft | 74,000 CFS | Jan 17, 1974 |
| 42.95 ft | 68,700 CFS | Feb 25, 1958 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Russian River at Guerneville
This gauge measures Russian River at Guerneville, California — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Summer float and a notorious winter flood record.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 156 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.
Russian River at Guerneville — common questions
What is the current flow on Russian River at Guerneville?
As of the last reading on this page, Russian River at Guerneville was running 123 CFS at a gage height of 1.38 ft, or 79% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 11467000, 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 156 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1940–2026). 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 Russian 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.