Topical Questions

What can I explore to get a better sense of an upcoming water year?

With various online query tools on SacPAS, you can explore historical and real-time river conditions to get a better sense of what an upcoming water year could look like, whether it may be a wetter than normal year (e.g., years 2011, 2019, 2023, and 2024) or a drier than normal year (e.g., years 2012-2016, 2018, 2020-2022). Also, notice the variability between water years within a generally wet or a generally dry year.

Below are select examples. Please explore further in the associated query tools.

Hydrologic Classification Indices

bar chart HCI all water years
Reconstructed Water Year Hydrologic Classification Indices (HCI) for Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley

All Years River Conditions

All Years Heatmap and data download: one location and one data parameter.

heatamp All Years Flow at Wilkins Slough
Water Year 1995-2026 Sacramento River below Wilkins Slough (CDEC: WLK) Daily Average River Discharge Flow (TCFS)

Basin Conditions

Multiple Locations Heatmap and data download: one year and one data parameter. Note, this product is calendar year based.

heatmap Flow in 2023 at 9 locations Sacramento River
heatmap Flow in 2022 at 9 locations Sacramento River
heatmap Flow in 2016 at 9 locations Sacramento River

River Conditions & Map

Multiple Locations, Multiple Years, Multiple Data Parameters line plot and data download. Note, this product is calendar year based.

line plot Flow in CFS at Keswick for multiple years
line plot River Stage in Feet at Keswick for multiple years
line plot for Full Natural Flow in CFS at Shasta Dam for multiple years
line plot for Reservoir Elevation in Feet at Oroville Dam for multiple years
line plot for Reservoir Storage in AF at Shasta Dam for multiple years
line plot for Water Temperature in degree F at Shasta Dam for multiple years

Weir Overtopping & History

Four Sacramento River weirs plot and data download.

impulse plot 2023 Weir Overtopping at Sacramento River Weirs
impulse plot 2019 Weir Overtopping at Sacramento River Weirs
impulse plot 2015 Weir Overtopping at Sacramento River Weirs
plot Weir Overtopping History at Moulton weir
plot Weir Overtopping History at Fremont weir

Stanislaus River Flow & Water Temperature

Stanislaus River Flow & Water Temperature with steelhead biological thresholds plot and data download.

plot 2023 Stanislaus River Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds
plot 2022 Stanislaus River Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds
plot 2020 Stanislaus River Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds

Lower American River Flow & Water Temperature

Lower American Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds plot and data download.

plot 2023 Lower American River Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds
plot 2020 Lower American River Flow & Water Temperature with biological thresholds