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N Santiam River at Mehama

Highest listed crest 17.50 ftFlood stage 11.0 ft20 crests since 1921

The N Santiam River at Mehama crested at major flood stage 6 times among the 20 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1921 to 2025. The highest, 17.50 ft on November 20, 1921, was major flooding, 6.50 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
17.50 ft
November 20, 1921
Flood stage
11.0 ft
Major flooding from 13.5 ft
Crests at major
6
10th of 100 gauges in Oregon
Most recent flood crest
December 19, 2025
12.11 ft, minor flooding
Location
Marion County
Oregon

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, N Santiam River at Mehama
Action stage8.68Apr 8, 2019The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.05Dec 19, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.51Feb 7, 1996Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage13.56Dec 22, 1964Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

20 crests from 1921 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the N Santiam River at Mehama, 1921 to 2025 81012141618ft Flood stage 11.0 ftMajor 13.5 ft Nov 20, 1921: 17.50 ft, major floodingJan 6, 1923: 17.50 ft, major floodingApr 1, 1931: 16.00 ft, major floodingMar 18, 1932: 14.50 ft, major floodingDec 28, 1945: 15.37 ft, major flooding; 76,600 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 1960: 11.00 ft, minor flooding; 35,800 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 1964: 13.55 ft, major flooding; 58,400 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1972: 11.91 ft, minor flooding; 43,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1986: 10.60 ft, action stage; 29,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 1996: 13.40 ft, moderate flooding; 53,800 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 1998: 10.04 ft, action stage; 25,300 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1999: 11.48 ft, minor flooding; 35,500 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2002: 9.64 ft, action stage; 22,800 cubic feet per secondNov 7, 2006: 10.53 ft, action stage; 28,500 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2009: 10.33 ft, action stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2011: 11.70 ft, minor flooding; 36,400 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 2012: 10.68 ft, action stage; 28,300 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 2015: 9.83 ft, action stage; 22,400 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2019: 8.85 ft, action stage; 17,700 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2025: 12.11 ft, minor flooding; 39,999 cubic feet per second Highest, 17.50 ft, Nov 20, 1921 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, N Santiam River at Mehama 1920s: 2 2 1930s: 2 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 2 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 2 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 1 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, N Santiam River at Mehama
1Nov 20, 192117.50+6.50Major—
2Jan 6, 192317.50+6.50Major—
3Apr 1, 193116.00+5.00Major—
4Dec 28, 194515.37+4.37Major76,600
5Mar 18, 193214.50+3.50Major—
6Dec 22, 196413.55+2.55Major58,400
7Feb 7, 199613.40+2.40Moderate53,800
8Dec 19, 202512.11+1.11Minor39,999
9Jan 21, 197211.91+0.91Minor43,300
10Jan 16, 201111.70+0.70Minor36,400
11Nov 26, 199911.48+0.48Minor35,500
12Nov 24, 196011.000.00Minor35,800
13Jan 19, 201210.68−0.32Action28,300
14Feb 23, 198610.60−0.40Action29,500
15Nov 7, 200610.53−0.47Action28,500
16Jan 1, 200910.33−0.67Action25,700
17Dec 28, 199810.04−0.96Action25,300
18Dec 17, 20159.83−1.17Action22,400
19Apr 14, 20029.64−1.36Action22,800
20Apr 8, 20198.85−2.15Action17,700

Other gauges in Marion County

Flood gauges in Marion County
Commercial Street in Salem9.513.60 ft, Jan 19, 20121
Aumsville10.813.00 ft, Dec 19, 20250
Monitor14.016.34 ft, Dec 19, 20250
North Salem High School at Salem10.312.61 ft, Jan 19, 20121
Spenner Road near Sublimity5.57.14 ft, Dec 19, 20250
Turner10.812.13 ft, Dec 19, 20251
Turner Road near Salem12.314.10 ft, Jan 19, 20121
Salem Hospital11.213.10 ft, Jan 19, 20121
Aurora22.030.72 ft, Feb 8, 19965
Salem28.047.00 ft, Dec 4, 18617

Marion County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Oregon

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MEHO3, 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.