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Donner Creek near Truckee

Highest listed crest 12.76 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft7 crests since 1996

The Donner Creek near Truckee crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 7 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1996 to 2017. The highest, 12.76 ft on January 2, 1997, was major flooding, 4.76 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Donner Creek crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
12.76 ft
January 2, 1997; 2,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 10.0 ft
Crests at major
2
24th of 106 gauges in California
Most recent flood crest
January 9, 2017
9.25 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Nevada County
Near Truckee (2.2 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Donner Creek near Truckee
Action stage7.02Dec 11, 2016The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.02May 19, 2005Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage9.01Jan 9, 2017Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage10.02Dec 31, 2005Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

7 crests from 1996 to 2017. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Donner Creek near Truckee, 1996 to 2017 68101214ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 10.0 ft May 17, 1996: 8.30 ft, minor flooding; 1,290 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1997: 12.76 ft, major flooding; 2,500 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2005: 8.30 ft, minor flooding; 1,290 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 2005: 10.50 ft, major flooding; 1,770 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 2012: 7.78 ft, action stage; 1,150 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 2016: 7.51 ft, action stage; 1,143 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 2017: 9.25 ft, moderate flooding; 1,550 cubic feet per second Highest, 12.76 ft, Jan 2, 1997 2000200520102015

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Donner Creek near Truckee 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 2 2010s: 1 1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Donner Creek near Truckee
1Jan 2, 199712.76+4.76Major2,500
2Dec 31, 200510.50+2.50Major1,770
3Jan 9, 20179.25+1.25Moderate1,550
4May 17, 19968.30+0.30Minor1,290
5May 19, 20058.30+0.30Minor1,290
6Dec 2, 20127.78−0.22Action1,150
7Dec 11, 20167.51−0.49Action1,143

The worst floods along the Donner Creek

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Donner Creek that crested above flood stage within a week.

January 2, 1997: 12.76 ft here, major flooding

May 17, 1996: 8.30 ft here, minor flooding

May 19, 2005: 8.30 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Donner Creek

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Donner Creek
Donner Lk Nr TruckeeCA5.56.63 ft, Jan 2, 19970
Truckee this gaugeCA8.012.76 ft, Jan 2, 19972

Other gauges in Nevada County

Flood gauges in Nevada County
Boca Reservoir5,605.05,605.55 ft, Dec 23, 19550
Donner Lk Nr Truckee5.56.63 ft, Jan 2, 19970
Farad11.014.37 ft, Nov 21, 19504

Nevada County: every hazard · River floods across the country · California

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DCHC1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.