Rivers in Alaska

Gulkana River at the Richardson Highway near Gulkana

Copper River County, AlaskaNWS GULA2Anchorage office

Below flood stage
6.17ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 10:02 AM UTC

Flood stage
10.00 ft
Forecast crest
6.53 ftThu, Sep 24, 6:00 AM UTC
Record crest
18.45 ft1986

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Moderate flood10.50 ft
Minor flood10.00 ft
Action9.00 ft
  1. 31.30 ftBridge Low Cord
  2. 11.00 ftStage associated with flow (17700 cfs) having a recurrence interval of >50 years; major flooding would be expected on this and nearby streams
  3. 10.50 ftStage associated with flow (15800 cfs) having a recurrence interval of ~20-40 years; moderate flooding would be expected on this and nearby streams
  4. 10.00 ftStage associated with flow (12400 cfs) having a recurrence interval of ~10 years; minor flooding would be expected on this and nearby streams
  5. 9.50 ftBankfull conditions. Lower parking lot at Richardon Highway boat launch becomes flooded.
  6. 9.00 ftBankfull -- stage associated with flow (7700 cfs) having a recurrence interval of ~2 years
  7. 8.00 ftHigh water level -- Class III+ whitewater above Sourdough; Class II+ below Sourdough
  8. 7.00 ftMedium water level -- Class III whitewater above Sourdough; Class II below Sourdough
  9. 6.00 ftLow water level -- Class III whitewater above Sourdough; Class II below Sourdough

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major flooding-99900%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 1, 2026.

Crest history

39 crests on NOAA’s list since 1982.

#DateStage
1May 11, 198618.45 ft
2May 30, 201312.13 ft
3May 12, 198211.65 ft
4May 4, 200710.85 ft
5December 29, 200010.71 ft
6May 4, 198910.40 ft
7June 18, 198510.35 ft
8May 4, 200910.28 ft
9June 2, 198810.00 ft
10September 13, 19909.93 ft
11June 18, 19849.75 ft
12August 27, 19839.75 ft
13May 6, 20119.74 ft
14May 9, 19919.55 ft
15June 15, 20129.38 ft
16June 1, 20219.33 ft
17May 12, 19929.30 ft
18August 24, 20069.30 ft
19May 13, 19939.09 ft
20June 3, 19929.05 ft
21June 2, 19978.95 ft
22April 30, 20058.90 ft
23May 9, 20048.90 ft
24July 3, 20148.85 ft
25May 10, 20158.79 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 1, 2021: 9.33 ft
  • May 18, 2017: 7.35 ft
  • July 26, 2016: 7.81 ft
  • May 10, 2015: 8.79 ft
  • July 3, 2014: 8.85 ft
  • May 30, 2013: 12.13 ft
  • June 15, 2012: 9.38 ft
  • May 6, 2011: 9.74 ft
  • July 25, 2010: 7.86 ft
  • May 4, 2009: 10.28 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely during the warm season, and as needed at other times of the year. Gage data do not meet the quality standards of USGS gages. Stage may be affected by ice.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.