Carson River near Carson City — Streamflow Page Note

Current Conditions (as of July 7, 2026)

The Carson River near Carson City is flowing at 37.2 ft³/s, significantly below normal for this time of year. This represents the 23rd percentile of the 5-year record — roughly 23% below the 5-year median.

Recent Trends

Streamflow has declined sharply across all timeframes:

• Week-over-week: Down 19.5% from 46 ft³/s
• Month-over-month: Down 79.8% from 184 ft³/s (June)
• Year-over-year: Down 23.3% from 49 ft³/s in early July 2025

The steep month-over-month drop reflects the seasonal transition from spring snowmelt runoff (peak in June) to summer baseflow, but even the current baseflow is below typical July levels.

Context

At 37 ft³/s, the Carson River is in a drought-stressed state relative to its 5-year baseline. Continued dry conditions and lack of precipitation have suppressed both spring runoff and summer flows. This level may impact water availability for irrigation, municipal supplies, and ecological needs downstream, particularly if conditions persist into August.

Data: 364 daily observations; latest reading July 7, 2026.