Big Black River near Depot Mountain
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 12.5 ft; minor flooding begins at 13.5 ft; moderate flooding begins at 15.0 ft.
| Action stage | 12.5 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 13.5 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 15.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 15.6 ft on Apr 1, 1987 (historic crest)
- 14.6 ft on Apr 17, 1994 (historic crest)
- 14.2 ft on Apr 2, 1986 (historic crest)
- 14.0 ft on Apr 21, 2019 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 12.0 ft | The river approaches bankfull and begins spilling into mainly rural forests, threatening low-lying property along the Maine and Quebec border. |
|---|---|
| 12.5 ft | The river floods primarily rural, forested areas of the North Woods. Water begins to threaten remote wilderness camps downstream of the Depot Road gage. |
| 13.5 ft | Depot Road begins to flood on the right bank of the river due to constrictions at the Depot Road bridge. Floodwaters threaten remote wilderness camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the gage. Significant flooding occurs in low-lying forests from the Quebec border downstream to the Maibec Road bridge, alongside minor flooding of properties along the Maine and Quebec border. |
| 15.0 ft | Floodwaters begin to isolate wilderness camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the Depot Road gage. Backwater flooding into forested areas may completely cut off these camps from the North Woods road network. Depot Road experiences up to 1 foot of dangerously fast-flowing water on the south side of the river crossing. |
| 16.0 ft | Extremely dangerous flood flows reach the lower bridge supports on Depot Road in T14 R16 WELS. Up to 2 feet of swiftly moving water overruns the south side of the Depot Road river crossing. Floodwaters surround and isolate remote sporting camps about 3 miles downstream of the gage in T14 R15 WELS. Remote wilderness forests downstream of the gage face widespread inundation of 2 to 5 feet. Overall flooding is similar to the April 1987 event. |
| 17.0 ft | The Depot Road bridge is fully inundated and likely damaged by debris. Extensive forest flooding occurs from the Maine and Quebec border downstream to Maibec Road. Remote sporting camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the Depot Road gage in T14 R15 WELS experience significant inundation. |
Forecast office: NWS Caribou · River Forecast Center: Northeast River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
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