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West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage)

Highest listed crest 9.99 ftFlood stage 6.0 ft22 crests since 1937

The West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage) crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 22 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1937 to 2023. The highest, 9.99 ft on January 2, 1997, was major flooding, 3.99 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the West Walker River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
9.99 ft
January 2, 1997; 12,300 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
6.0 ft
Major flooding from 7.3 ft
Crests at major
4
13th of 106 gauges in California
Most recent flood crest
June 19, 2023
6.62 ft, minor flooding
Location
Mono County
California

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage)
Action stage5.51Dec 23, 1964The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)6.014Jun 19, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.83Jun 20, 2017Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage7.34Jan 2, 1997Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

22 crests from 1937 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage), 1937 to 2023 5678910ft Flood stage 6.0 ftMajor 7.3 ft Dec 11, 1937: 7.71 ft, major flooding; 5,800 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 1950: 7.86 ft, major flooding; 6,220 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 1955: 7.37 ft, major flooding; 5,180 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 1964: 5.99 ft, action stage; 2,950 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1967: 6.11 ft, minor flooding; 3,100 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1969: 6.39 ft, minor flooding; 3,470 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1983: 6.26 ft, minor flooding; 3,300 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1986: 6.10 ft, minor flooding; 3,090 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1995: 6.65 ft, minor flooding; 3,860 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1996: 7.07 ft, moderate flooding; 4,610 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1997: 9.99 ft, major flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2003: 6.04 ft, minor flooding; 3,010 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2005: 6.39 ft, minor flooding; 3,470 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2006: 6.59 ft, minor flooding; 3,770 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2010: 6.57 ft, minor flooding; 3,730 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2011: 6.75 ft, minor flooding; 4,040 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2017: 6.81 ft, moderate flooding; 4,140 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2017: 6.88 ft, moderate flooding; 4,260 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2018: 6.20 ft, minor flooding; 3,220 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2019: 6.00 ft, minor flooding; 2,970 cubic feet per secondOct 25, 2021: 6.05 ft, minor flooding; 3,030 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2023: 6.62 ft, minor flooding; 3,820 cubic feet per second Highest, 9.99 ft, Jan 2, 1997 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage) 1930s: 1 1940s: 0 1950s: 2 1960s: 2 1970s: 0 1980s: 2 1990s: 3 2000s: 3 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 2 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage)
1Jan 2, 19979.99+3.99Major12,300
2Nov 20, 19507.86+1.86Major6,220
3Dec 11, 19377.71+1.71Major5,800
4Dec 23, 19557.37+1.37Major5,180
5May 16, 19967.07+1.07Moderate4,610
6Jun 20, 20176.88+0.88Moderate4,260
7Jun 5, 20176.81+0.81Moderate4,140
8Jun 24, 20116.75+0.75Minor4,040
9Jul 9, 19956.65+0.65Minor3,860
10Jun 19, 20236.62+0.62Minor3,820
11May 20, 20066.59+0.59Minor3,770
12Jun 7, 20106.57+0.57Minor3,730
13Jun 4, 19696.39+0.39Minor3,470
14May 28, 20056.39+0.39Minor3,470
15Jun 18, 19836.26+0.26Minor3,300
16Apr 8, 20186.20+0.20Minor3,220
17Jul 3, 19676.11+0.11Minor3,100
18Jun 1, 19866.10+0.10Minor3,090
19Oct 25, 20216.05+0.05Minor3,030
20May 30, 20036.04+0.04Minor3,010
21Jun 7, 20196.000.00Minor2,970
22Dec 23, 19645.99−0.01Action2,950

The worst floods along the West Walker River

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

January 2, 1997: 9.99 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the West Walker River

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

Flood gauges on the West Walker River
Coleville (Upper Gage) this gaugeCA6.09.99 ft, Jan 2, 19974
Coleville (Lower Gage)CA7.37.95 ft, Jun 20, 20170
Hoye Bridge nr WellingtonNV8.013.67 ft, Jan 3, 19971
HudsonNV6.012.18 ft, Jan 3, 19970

Other gauges in Mono County

Flood gauges in Mono County
Bridgeport6.07.49 ft, Jan 2, 19971
Bridgeport3.43.92 ft, Jul 4, 20230
Twin Lakes4.05.44 ft, Jan 3, 19970
Bridgeport4.58.40 ft, Dec 23, 19551
Coleville (Lower Gage)7.37.95 ft, Jun 20, 20170

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WWBC1, 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.