Rivers in New York

Buffalo Creek at Gardenville

Erie County, New YorkNWS GDVN6USGS 04214500Buffalo office

Below flood stage
0.53ftStage

Observed Wed, Sep 23, 3:15 AM EDT

Flood stage
7.00 ft
Forecast crest
0.50 ftWed, Sep 23, 8:00 AM EDT
Record crest
14.34 ft1978

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood9.00 ft
Moderate flood8.00 ft
Minor flood7.00 ft
Action6.00 ft
  1. 9.00 ftMajor flood, widespread flooding along low lying areas near Buffalo Creek. Most affected areas include Elma Village north of Bowen Road bridge, Blossom Road, Transit Road, and houses in back of 14 Holy Helpers Church near Union Road.
  2. 8.00 ftModerate flood, flooding is likely along low lying areas near the Buffalo Creek, especially near Collins Avenue, Elma Town Park, and in some sections of Elma Village north of the Bowen Road bridge.
  3. 7.00 ftFlood stage, minor flooding is possible along the low lying areas next to Buffalo Creek, especially in the farm fields downstream from Union Road.
  4. 6.00 ftAction stage, high flows. No flooding.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.

Crest history

32 crests on NOAA’s list since 1937.

#DateStage
1March 21, 197814.34 ft
2March 5, 197914.20 ft
3February 21, 199612.30 ft
4June 1, 193710.20 ft
5March 7, 19569.42 ft
6June 23, 19729.09 ft
7March 2, 19728.89 ft
8January 23, 19578.84 ft
9March 17, 19428.80 ft
10December 28, 20088.71 ft
11September 9, 20048.71 ft
12January 29, 19758.67 ft
13September 29, 19678.50 ft
14March 5, 19648.45 ft
15January 24, 19998.40 ft
16March 3, 19768.38 ft
17September 25, 19778.38 ft
18April 25, 19618.23 ft
19February 1, 20028.17 ft
20April 24, 19778.14 ft
21December 6, 19728.12 ft
22March 15, 20078.08 ft
23January 8, 19988.06 ft
24December 30, 19848.03 ft
25January 19, 19968.00 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 1, 2026: 7.77 ft
  • February 18, 2022: 7.26 ft
  • November 24, 2014: 7.12 ft
  • December 22, 2013: 7.78 ft
  • October 30, 2012: 7.12 ft
  • February 18, 2011: 7.08 ft
  • March 8, 2009: 7.71 ft
  • December 28, 2008: 8.71 ft
  • March 15, 2007: 8.08 ft
  • September 9, 2004: 8.71 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Impact statements listed below may not be representative during times of ice jam flooding. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.

Sources

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.