Truckee River at Tahoe City
California · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 10337500 — TRUCKEE R A TAHOE CITY CA · NWS forecast point TRTC1
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 291 CFS, this gauge is running 94% of normal for late July — close to the 308 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 117 years of record (1909–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Tahoe City
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge TRTC1, issued by WFO REV. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 9.5 ft
- 9.5 ft Major Flood Stage. Major flooding between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows mipacting homes, bridges, businesses and infrastructure. near maximum reservoir release from Lake Tahoe. Most recent date of maximum full lake release was January 1997.
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Moderate flood 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft Moderate Flood Stage. Moderate flooding between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows impacting low bridges, landscapes and a few buildings.
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Minor flood 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft Flood Stage; Minor flooding between Tahoe City and Alpoine Meadows. Some inundation of low lying properties incluidng crawlspaces. River level approaching lowest bridges where trapped debris could cause additional impacts. Extended portions of the bike path are flooded. Flow very similar to April 2018 and slightly below high flow releases in April 2017.
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Action 7.0 ft
- 7.0 ft Monitor Stage. Bike path and low lying areas along the river flood between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows
- Right now 3.80 ft
12 months of flow at Tahoe City
Daily values from USGS gauge 10337500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Tahoe City
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 9.59 ft | 2,690 CFS | Jan 2, 1997 |
| 9.32 ft | 2,630 CFS | Jun 19, 1969 |
| 8.84 ft | 2,450 CFS | Mar 13, 1986 |
| 8.47 ft | 2,360 CFS | Dec 26, 1983 |
| 8.45 ft | 2,350 CFS | May 21, 1996 |
| 8.25 ft | 2,220 CFS | Apr 26, 2017 |
| 7.98 ft | 2,060 CFS | Apr 10, 2018 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Truckee River at Tahoe City
This gauge sits on Truckee River at Tahoe City, California, immediately below Lake Tahoe. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Fanny Bridge; Tahoe's signature commercial tube float.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 308 CFS for late July, from 117 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Tahoe. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Truckee River at Tahoe City — common questions
What is the current flow on Truckee River at Tahoe City?
As of the last reading on this page, Truckee River at Tahoe City was running 291 CFS at a gage height of 3.80 ft, or 94% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 10337500, 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 308 CFS, calculated from 117 years of record (1909–2026). 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 Truckee 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?
Less than you would expect. This gauge is below Lake Tahoe, so the dominant control is the dam release schedule, not rainfall. A storm in the basin raises the reservoir first; the operator decides when it reaches you.
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.