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Neches River at Saltwater Barrier

Highest listed crest 21.56 ftFlood stage 4.0 ft19 crests since 2003

The Neches River at Saltwater Barrier crested at major flood stage 11 times among the 19 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2003 to 2024. The highest, 21.56 ft on September 1, 2017, was major flooding, 17.56 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Neches River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
21.56 ft
September 1, 2017; 232,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
4.0 ft
Major flooding from 8.0 ft
Crests at major
11
51st of 370 gauges in Texas
Most recent flood crest
May 6, 2024
10.72 ft, major flooding
Location
Orange County
Near Beaumont (5.3 mi), Lumberton (8.8 mi), Nederland (14.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Neches River at Saltwater Barrier
Action stage3.41Oct 27, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)4.04Feb 4, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.02May 31, 2015Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage8.011May 6, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

19 crests from 2003 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Neches River at Saltwater Barrier, 2003 to 2024 0510152025ft Flood stage 4.0 ftMajor 8.0 ft Sep 5, 2003: 1.42 ft, below flood stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2004: 6.29 ft, moderate flooding; 39,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 2005: 5.76 ft, minor floodingOct 22, 2006: 11.73 ft, major floodingSep 13, 2008: 9.61 ft, major floodingMar 27, 2015: 5.66 ft, minor floodingMay 31, 2015: 7.55 ft, moderate floodingJun 21, 2015: 8.06 ft, major floodingNov 4, 2015: 8.16 ft, major floodingMar 15, 2016: 9.84 ft, major floodingJun 7, 2016: 10.61 ft, major floodingSep 1, 2017: 21.56 ft, major flooding; 232,000 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2018: 8.85 ft, major floodingJan 8, 2019: 8.47 ft, major floodingSep 22, 2020: 4.60 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 2021: 10.70 ft, major floodingOct 27, 2021: 3.65 ft, action stageFeb 4, 2023: 4.28 ft, minor floodingMay 6, 2024: 10.72 ft, major flooding Highest, 21.56 ft, Sep 1, 2017 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Neches River at Saltwater Barrier 2000s: 4 2010s: 9 9 2020s: 4 2000s2010s2020s
  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, Neches River at Saltwater Barrier
1Sep 1, 201721.56+17.56Major232,000
2Oct 22, 200611.73+7.73Major—
3May 6, 202410.72+6.72Major—
4May 22, 202110.70+6.70Major—
5Jun 7, 201610.61+6.61Major—
6Mar 15, 20169.84+5.84Major—
7Sep 13, 20089.61+5.61Major—
8Apr 2, 20188.85+4.85Major—
9Jan 8, 20198.47+4.47Major—
10Nov 4, 20158.16+4.16Major—
11Jun 21, 20158.06+4.06Major—
12May 31, 20157.55+3.55Moderate—
13Feb 16, 20046.29+2.29Moderate39,400
14Feb 14, 20055.76+1.76Minor—
15Mar 27, 20155.66+1.66Minor—
16Sep 22, 20204.60+0.60Minor—
17Feb 4, 20234.28+0.28Minor—
18Oct 27, 20213.65−0.35Action—
19Sep 5, 20031.42−2.58Below flood stage12,300

The worst floods along the Neches River

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

September 1, 2017: 21.56 ft here, major flooding

  • EvadaleTX · Sep 2, 2017 · 25.11 ft · Major
  • BeaumontTX · Sep 1, 2017 · 19.59 ft · Major · its highest
  • Downtown BeaumontTX · Sep 2, 2017 · 17.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • Town BluffTX · Aug 31, 2017 · 80.70 ft · Moderate
  • RocklandTX · Sep 1, 2017 · 32.12 ft · Moderate
  • DibollTX · Aug 30, 2017 · 15.03 ft · Minor

October 22, 2006: 11.73 ft here, major flooding

  • BeaumontTX · Oct 22, 2006 · 12.00 ft · Major
  • Town BluffTX · Oct 20, 2006 · 72.25 ft · Moderate
  • EvadaleTX · Oct 21, 2006 · 19.46 ft · Minor

May 22, 2021: 10.70 ft here, major flooding

  • Town BluffTX · May 18, 2021 · 77.91 ft · Moderate
  • EvadaleTX · May 20, 2021 · 21.02 ft · Moderate
  • RocklandTX · May 26, 2021 · 27.95 ft · Minor
  • NechesTX · May 21, 2021 · 16.43 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Neches River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Neches River
BeaumontTX4.019.59 ft, Sep 1, 20175
Downtown BeaumontTX4.017.00 ft, Sep 2, 20171
EvadaleTX16.026.20 ft, May 1, 18843
RocklandTX26.038.00 ft, May 1, 18847
Saltwater Barrier this gaugeTX4.021.56 ft, Sep 1, 201711
AltoTX16.022.60 ft, Mar 15, 201611
DibollTX12.021.00 ft, May 7, 18841
NechesTX12.025.00 ft, May 3, 18842
Town BluffTX68.086.80 ft, May 1, 18844

Other gauges in Orange County

Flood gauges in Orange County
FM 32476.013.30 ft, Sep 1, 20172
SH 874.09.50 ft, Sep 1, 20171
I-1010.012.06 ft, Dec 8, 20180
FM 14426.016.53 ft, Sep 3, 20172
SH 874.07.72 ft, Sep 3, 20171
Mauriceville17.026.85 ft, Aug 30, 20175
I-103.03.37 ft, Sep 23, 20200
International Paper7.07.67 ft, Apr 30, 20200
Orange4.07.83 ft, Sep 3, 20173

Orange County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Texas

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge NSBT2, 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.