USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

11159000 Pajaro River at Chittenden, CA

LOCATION - Lat 36°54'01", long 121°35'48" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Santa Cruz County, CA, Hydrologic Unit 18060002, in Salsipuedes Grant, on left bank, at downstream side of bridge on State Highway 129, 0.6 mi downstream from Pescadero Creek, 0.6 mi southeast of Chittenden, and 2.3 mi downstream from San Benito River.

DRAINAGE AREA - 1,186 mi².

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1939 to current year. Monthly discharge only for some periods, published in WSP 1315-B. Prior to October 1954, published as "near Chittenden." CHEMICAL DATA: Water years 1952-92. BIOLOGICAL DATA: Water years 1978-81. SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: Water years 1978-81, daily. WATER TEMPERATURE: Water years 1978-81, daily. SEDIMENT DATA: Water years 1978-92.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 81.89 ft above NGVD of 1929 and 85.28 ft above NAVD of 1988. Prior to May 13, 1949, nonrecording gage on former bridge 100 ft at same datum, except for periods in 1947 and 1948 when a water-stage recorder was in use.

REMARKS - Low flows regulated by Hernandez Reservoir, capacity, 18,500 acre-ft; Pacheco Lake, capacity, 6,140 acre-ft; Chesbro Reservoir, capacity, 8,090 acre-ft; Uvas Reservoir, capacity, 9,950 acre-ft; and San Felipe Lake. Many diversions upstream from station for irrigation.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of February 1938 reached a stage of 31.3 ft, from floodmarks.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 25,100 ft³/s, Feb. 3, 1998, gage height, 33.73 ft; no flow at times in July and August 1948.