USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
11143000 Big Sur River near Big Sur, CA
LOCATION - Lat 36°14'45", long 121°46'20" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SW 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.29, T.19 S., R.2 E., Monterey County, CA, Hydrologic Unit 18060006, Mt. Diablo meridian, on right bank at downstream side of bridge foundation, 0.4 mi upstream from Post Creek, and 2.6 mi southeast of town of Big Sur on State Highway 1.
DRAINAGE AREA - 46.5 mi².
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1445: 1952 (peaks above base), 1953 (instantaneous maximum discharge). WSP 1715: 1951, drainage area.
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - March 1950 to current year. Prior to October 1959, published as "Sur River at Big Sur."
CHEMICAL DATA: Water year 1977.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Water years 1966-79.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 58.07 ft above NAVD of 1988. Prior to Oct. 1, 1951, nonrecording gage at site 0.9 mi downstream at different datum.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 10,700 ft³/s, Jan. 5, 1978, gage height, 14.30 ft, from rating curve extended above 6,800 ft³/s, on basis of slope-area measurement of peak flow; minimum daily, 2.6 ft³/s, Aug. 23, 1977, Sept. 9, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 1990.