Tanana River at Fairbanks

1. 26.30 ftIn August 1997...a stage of 26.3 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with washouts of driveways off the Old Richardson Hwy between Moose Creek and Salcha. The bridge on the old Rich over Piledriver Slough was threatened but prompt action saved it.Perkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded. The water reached a depth of about 18 inches on lower Melanie Lane. No serious damage was reported in this area.
2. 25.70 ftIn 1986...a stage of 25.7 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with a washout of the bridge on the Old Richardson Highway over Piledriver Slough...near Stringer Road. Driveways off the Old Rich between Moose Creek and Salcha were also washed outPerkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded...to a depth of over a foot in spots.
3. 25.40 ftIn August 1997 when the Tanana River had receded to a stage of 25.4 feet at Fairbanks from a crest of 26.3 feet...Perkins Road was passable but water was still knee deep on portions of Melanie Lane.
4. 25.20 ftIn 1984...a stage of 25.2 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with a washout of the bridge on the Old Richardson Hwy over Piledriver Slough..near Stringer Road. Driveways off the Old Rich between Moose Creek and Salcha were also washed out.Perkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded. Subsequent improvements make serious flooding in this area unlikely at this stage...though there will be groundwater problems.
5. 24.00 ftIn the past...some people residing near the Tanana River outside of the dike have expressed concerns about high groundwater levels when the Tanana River at Fairbanks was around 24.0 feet.No specific threats a this stage are known.Bankfull conditions in the vicinity of the Old Richardson Hwy in Salcha and the onset of overbank flow on Ruger Trail near Bradbury Road. Tanana River water may begin to flow into Piledriver Slough.

Chance of flooding, October to December

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

Most recent crests

• August 31, 2025: 23.87 ft
• August 11, 2024: 24.44 ft
• August 31, 2023: 25.50 ft
• May 11, 2023: 26.11 ft
• July 13, 2022: 24.78 ft
• July 25, 2021: 23.04 ft
• May 3, 2021: 23.59 ft
• June 24, 2020: 26.10 ft
• August 18, 2019: 24.67 ft
• August 8, 2018: 24.49 ft

• UpstreamTanana River at Big Delta
• DownstreamTanana River at Nenana
• Chena River at Fairbanks
• Goldstream Creek at Fairbanks
• Chena River at Chena Lakes
• Little Chena River at Chena Hot Springs Road
• Chatanika River at Elliot Hwy Bridge
• Fish Creek at Chatanika
• Chena River at Hunts Creek
• Chatanika River at Steese Hwy Bridge

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. Stage may be affected by ice.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.