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San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees

Highest listed crest 24.54 ftFlood stage 16.5 ft6 crests since 2021

The San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 6 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2021 to 2023. The highest, 24.54 ft on January 9, 2023, was major flooding, 8.04 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
24.54 ft
January 9, 2023; 20,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.5 ft
Major flooding from 21.8 ft
Crests at major
3
19th of 106 gauges in California
Most recent flood crest
March 14, 2023
16.90 ft, minor flooding
Location
Santa Cruz County
Near Scotts Valley (3.4 mi), Santa Cruz (5.3 mi), Los Gatos (14.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees
Action stage14.01Dec 13, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.51Mar 14, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage19.51Mar 10, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.83Jan 14, 2023Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

6 crests from 2021 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees, 2021 to 2023 161820222426ft Flood stage 16.5 ftMajor 21.8 ft Dec 13, 2021: 16.06 ft, action stage; 5,600 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 2022: 22.15 ft, major flooding; 16,000 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 2023: 24.54 ft, major flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 2023: 21.83 ft, major flooding; 15,400 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2023: 19.90 ft, moderate flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2023: 16.90 ft, minor flooding; 7,860 cubic feet per second Highest, 24.54 ft, Jan 9, 2023 20252030
  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.
  3. 44 crests measured on an earlier gauge datum are left out: 16.30 ft on Jan 31, 1938; 21.10 ft on Feb 27, 1940; 17.15 ft on Feb 9, 1941; 16.10 ft on Jan 24, 1942; 16.35 ft on Jan 21, 1943; 16.85 ft on Jan 12, 1952; and more.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, San Lorenzo River (CA) at Big Trees
1Jan 9, 202324.54+8.04Major20,500
2Dec 31, 202222.15+5.65Major16,000
3Jan 14, 202321.83+5.33Major15,400
4Mar 10, 202319.90+3.40Moderate12,200
5Mar 14, 202316.90+0.40Minor7,860
6Dec 13, 202116.06−0.44Action5,600

Other gauges in Santa Cruz County

Flood gauges in Santa Cruz County
Soquel16.022.33 ft, Dec 23, 19551

Santa Cruz County: every hazard · River floods across the country · California

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BTEC1, 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.