Aroostook River at Washburn
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 12.5 ft; minor flooding begins at 14.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 17.0 ft; major flooding begins at 20.0 ft.
| Action stage | 12.5 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 14.0 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 17.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 20.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 21.1 ft on Apr 18, 2015 (historic crest)
- 20.9 ft on Dec 24, 1973 (historic crest)
- 19.7 ft on Apr 20, 2019 (historic crest)
- 17.8 ft on Apr 8, 1990 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 12.5 ft | River approaches bankfull with increasingly dangerous flows. |
|---|---|
| 14.0 ft | Minor flooding along State Route 164 and Parsons Road mainly impacting agricultural fields. Backwater issues will cause Clayton Brook to threaten Parsons Road. Backwater will also cause streams near Langille Road and State Route 164 to threaten properties. Low lying properties along Gardner Creek Road will begin to flood. Camps along the river banks in Wade and Castle Hill begin to be threatened. |
| 15.0 ft | Minor flooding on Gardner Creek Road in Washburn and Wade. Numerous river side camps and properties threatened between Castle Hill and Wade. Minor flooding in Crouseville along Route 164 near Rum Rapids. Dangerous swiftwater flows through Washburn. Backwater in Salmon Brook may begin to flood Gardner Creek Road in Washburn. |
| 17.0 ft | Several structures inundated on Gardner Creek Road. Gardner Creek Road is impassable at Gardner Brook due to backwater. Backwater in Salmon Brook will cause minor flooding of Gardner Creek Road in Washburn. |
| 19.5 ft | Water reaches the bottom of the Castle Hill Road bridge. Similar flooding to the flood of April 20th, 2019. Gardner Creek Road is impassable in several locations with several homes & camps along the river inundated. Backwater flooding of Clayton Brook floods Parsons Road. Route 164 is closed due to backwater flooding on numerous creeks and streams between Adaline to Crouseville and downstream to Presque Isle. |
| 20.0 ft | Widespread flooding of Gardner Creek Road, South Wade Road, Parsons Road and State Route 164. Numerous homes and camps inundated from Wade and Washburn downstream to Presque Isle. Flooding similar to December 1973. |
| 21.5 ft | Historic flooding. Catastrophic damage to homes and camps between Castle Hill and Presque Isle. Castle Hill Road bridge inundated by floodwaters. Significant road closures and infastructure integrity threatened. |
Forecast office: NWS Caribou · River Forecast Center: Northeast River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
- Hardwood Brook near Caribou NWS gauge · 8.0 mi
- Little Madawaska River near Caribou NWS gauge · 12.6 mi
- Williams Brook near Presque Isle NWS gauge · 14.1 mi
- Aroostook River below Tinker Dam NWS gauge · 19.4 mi
- Aroostook River at Masardis NWS gauge · 20.3 mi
- St. John River at Grand Falls NWS gauge · 26.7 mi