USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

11469000 Mattole River near Petrolia, CA

LOCATION - Lat 40°18'48", long 124°16'56" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SE 1/4 NW 1/4 sec.10, T.2 S., R.2 W., Humboldt County, CA, Hydrologic Unit 18010107, in Humboldt meridian, on downstream side of bridge, on left bank, 0.2 mi downstream from Mill Creek, 0.5 mi southeast from Petrolia Post Office, 0.6 mi upstream from North Fork, 0.8 mi south of Petrolia, and 20.6 mi south of town of Fernbridge.

DRAINAGE AREA - 245 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1285: 1912-13. WSP 1929: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1911 to December 1913, October 1950 to current year. Monthly discharge only for some periods, published in WSP 1315-B. 

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 49.79 ft above NAVD of 1988. November 1911 to December 1913, nonrecording gages at several sites within 0.3 mi upstream at various datums. Dec. 11, 1950, to July 14, 1955, at site 0.3 mi upstream at datum 7.48 ft higher. July 15, 1955, to Oct. 26, 1967, at site 0.4 mi downstream at different datum. Oct. 27, 1967, to Oct. 30, 1996, at site 1.1 mi upstream at datum 7.00 ft higher.

REMARKS - Diversions for irrigation of about 350 acres upstream from station.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 90,400 ft³/s, Dec. 22, 1955, gage height, 36.60 ft, site and datum then in use, from rating curve extended above 26,000 ft³/s, on basis of slope-area measurement of peak flow; minimum daily, 3.43 ft³/s, Sept. 18, 2021.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD -

DISCRETE WATER-QUALITY DATA:
CHEMICAL ANALYSES: Water years 1959-79. 

CONTINUOUS WATER-QUALITY DATA:
SEDIMENT DATA: Water years 2001-03 (storm season only).
WATER TEMPERATURE: Water years 1966-78, 2001-03 (storm season only).