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West Fork Carson River at Woodfords

Highest listed crest 14.42 ftFlood stage 13.5 ft13 crests since 1998

The West Fork Carson River at Woodfords crested above flood stage 12 times among the 13 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1998 to 2023. The highest, 14.42 ft on April 7, 2018, was minor flooding, 0.92 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
14.42 ft
April 7, 2018; 2,750 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.5 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
0
12 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
May 19, 2023
14.11 ft, minor flooding
Location
Alpine County
Near South Lake Tahoe (13.5 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, West Fork Carson River at Woodfords
Action stage12.51Jun 5, 2010The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.512May 19, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage14.50—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

13 crests from 1998 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the West Fork Carson River at Woodfords, 1998 to 2023 1313.51414.515ft Flood stage 13.5 ftMajor 15.0 ft Jun 7, 1998: 13.59 ft, minor flooding; 1,130 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1999: 13.57 ft, minor flooding; 1,110 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2005: 14.20 ft, minor flooding; 2,150 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 2005: 14.41 ft, minor flooding; 2,720 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2010: 13.44 ft, action stage; 982 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 2017: 14.22 ft, minor flooding; 2,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 2017: 13.70 ft, minor flooding; 1,270 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2017: 14.29 ft, minor flooding; 2,380 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2018: 14.42 ft, minor flooding; 2,750 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2019: 13.59 ft, minor flooding; 1,140 cubic feet per secondOct 25, 2021: 13.63 ft, minor flooding; 1,180 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2023: 13.63 ft, minor flooding; 1,180 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2023: 14.11 ft, minor flooding; 1,940 cubic feet per second Highest, 14.42 ft, Apr 7, 2018 20002005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, West Fork Carson River at Woodfords 1990s: 2 2000s: 2 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 3 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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. 28 crests measured on an earlier gauge datum are left out: 13.71 ft on Jun 9, 1890; 13.54 ft on May 12, 1904; 13.91 ft on May 9, 1906; 13.83 ft on May 17, 1907; 13.67 ft on May 5, 1909; 13.72 ft on May 23, 1911; and more.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, West Fork Carson River at Woodfords
1Apr 7, 201814.42+0.92Minor2,750
2Dec 31, 200514.41+0.91Minor2,720
3May 5, 201714.29+0.79Minor2,380
4Jan 9, 201714.22+0.72Minor2,200
5May 18, 200514.20+0.70Minor2,150
6May 19, 202314.11+0.61Minor1,940
7Feb 9, 201713.70+0.20Minor1,270
8Oct 25, 202113.63+0.13Minor1,180
9May 1, 202313.63+0.13Minor1,180
10Jun 7, 199813.59+0.09Minor1,130
11Jun 7, 201913.59+0.09Minor1,140
12May 28, 199913.57+0.07Minor1,110
13Jun 5, 201013.44−0.06Action982

Other gauges in Alpine County

Flood gauges in Alpine County
Markleeville9.011.64 ft, Jan 2, 19971

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WOOC1, 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.