From Alaska To Texas, Water Levels Are Approaching Historic Lows In These Places

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While many parts of the Mid-Atlantic are facing flood emergencies right now, others are contending with the opposite crisis. From the Texas Hill Country to the Arizona highlands and the central Great Plains, real-time streamflow data shows a growing number of waterways slowing to a trickle, with discharge measuring at historic lows.

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In several locations, rivers that normally flow strong in spring are now barely moving. Some remain visibly wide while flowing at less than 1% of their typical seasonal volume. These low flows are often early signs of hydrological drought, with implications for drinking water supplies, agriculture, and ecosystems that rely on consistent river conditions.

Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows dozens of observation stations across the United States reporting streamflow levels in the bottom 2% of their historical records. The majority are concentrated in drought-prone regions of the Southwest and south-central U.S., especially Texas, Kansas, Arizona, and Colorado. A closer look at the data reveals the places where water levels are near historic lows.

To determine where water is at historic lows right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current streamflow observations from the U.S. Geological Survey. Stations were ranked based on the historic percentile of current streamflow. Stations where current streamflow conditions are in the lowest percentile – meaning where streamflow levels are at their lowest compared to historical observations – were ranked highest. Supplemental data on current water levels and flooding thresholds are also from the USGS. Station locations were paired to Census Bureau places using nearest neighbor analysis.

25. Slate Creek at Wellington, KS (Sumner County)

• Current streamflow: 0.3 cubic feet per second (1.82nd percentile)
• Current water level: 3.12 feet
• Flooding threshold: 19.00 feet

 

24. Arkansas River at Derby, KS (Sedgwick County)

• Current streamflow: 174.0 cubic feet per second (1.79th percentile)
• Current water level: 0.90 feet
• Flooding threshold: 12.00 feet

 

23. Pigeon River at Scott, IN (Scott County)

• Current streamflow: 182.0 cubic feet per second (1.79th percentile)
• Current water level: 3.73 feet
• Flooding threshold: 6.00 feet

 

22. Pedernales River at Johnson City, TX (Blanco County)

• Current streamflow: 0.9 cubic feet per second (1.76th percentile)
• Current water level: 10.07 feet
• Flooding threshold: 14.00 feet

 

21. Mendenhall River at Juneau, AK (Juneau City and Borough)

• Current streamflow: 277.0 cubic feet per second (1.72nd percentile)
• Current water level: 1.86 feet
• Flooding threshold: 9.00 feet

 

20. Guadalupe River at Ingram, TX (Kerr County)

• Current streamflow: 06.6 cubic feet per second (1.67th percentile)
• Current water level: 7.62 feet
• Flooding threshold: 10.00 feet

 

19. San Francisco River at Clifton, AZ (Greenlee County)

• Current streamflow: 15.8 cubic feet per second (1.61st percentile)
• Current water level: 9.01 feet
• Flooding threshold: 24.00 feet

 

18. Comal River at New Braunfels, TX (Comal County)

• Current streamflow: 44.9 cubic feet per second (1.52nd percentile)
• Current water level: 3.20 feet
• Flooding threshold: 11.00 feet

 

17. Dallas Creek at Loghill Village, CO (Ouray County)

• Current streamflow: 0.3 cubic feet per second (1.49th percentile)
• Current water level: 1.74 feet
• Flooding threshold: 5.80 feet

 

16. Hanawi Stream at Hana, HI (Maui County)

• Current streamflow: 02.1 cubic feet per second (1.46th percentile)
• Current water level: 0.30 feet
• Flooding threshold: 7.50 feet

 

15. Sandies Creek at Cuero, TX (DeWitt County)

• Current streamflow: 0.0 cubic feet per second (1.43rd percentile)
• Current water level: 2.11 feet
• Flooding threshold: 21.00 feet

 

14. San Bernard River at Boling, TX (Wharton County)

• Current streamflow: 0.9 cubic feet per second (1.41st percentile)
• Current water level: 2.34 feet
• Flooding threshold: 18.00 feet

 

13. Mission River at Refugio, TX (Refugio County)

• Current streamflow: 0.0 cubic feet per second (1.18th percentile)
• Current water level: 1.60 feet
• Flooding threshold: 23.00 feet

 

12. Lavaca River at Edna, TX (Jackson County)

• Current streamflow: 02.5 cubic feet per second (1.16th percentile)
• Current water level: 4.41 feet
• Flooding threshold: 21.00 feet

 

11. Colorado River at Wharton, TX (Wharton County)

• Current streamflow: 177.0 cubic feet per second (1.16th percentile)
• Current water level: 6.98 feet
• Flooding threshold: 39.00 feet

 

10. Republican River at Clay Center, KS (Clay County)

• Current streamflow: 37.2 cubic feet per second (1.12nd percentile)
• Current water level: 6.53 feet
• Flooding threshold: 15.00 feet

 

9. Guadalupe River at Victoria, TX (Victoria County)

• Current streamflow: 147.0 cubic feet per second (1.11st percentile)
• Current water level: 4.24 feet
• Flooding threshold: 21.00 feet

 

8. Colorado River at Columbus, TX (Colorado County)

• Current streamflow: 611.0 cubic feet per second (1.08th percentile)
• Current water level: 9.86 feet
• Flooding threshold: 34.00 feet

 

7. Blanco River at Wimberley, TX (Hays County)

• Current streamflow: 02.8 cubic feet per second (1.02nd percentile)
• Current water level: 3.39 feet
• Flooding threshold: 13.00 feet

 

6. Salt River at Carrizo, AZ (Gila County)

• Current streamflow: 75.5 cubic feet per second (1.00th percentile)
• Current water level: 1.44 feet
• Flooding threshold: 18.00 feet

 

5. Guadalupe River at Canyon Lake, TX (Comal County)

• Current streamflow: 0.3 cubic feet per second (0.98th percentile)
• Current water level: 0.89 feet
• Flooding threshold: 30.00 feet

 

4. Gila River at San Jose, AZ (Graham County)

• Current streamflow: 34.5 cubic feet per second (0.97th percentile)
• Current water level: 6.28 feet
• Flooding threshold: 21.00 feet

 

3. Surface Creek at Cedaredge, CO (Delta County)

• Current streamflow: 20.9 cubic feet per second (0.93rd percentile)
• Current water level: 1.07 feet
• Flooding threshold: 3.80 feet

 

2. Sevier River at Kingston, UT (Piute County)

• Current streamflow: 05.9 cubic feet per second (0.91st percentile)
• Current water level: 3.31 feet
• Flooding threshold: 9.00 feet

 

1. Salt River at Rock House, AZ (Gila County)

• Current streamflow: 78.8 cubic feet per second (0.90th percentile)
• Current water level: 5.55 feet
• Flooding threshold: 30.00 feet

 

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