USGS Streamgage 11136800
Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA
Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA is USGS streamgage 11136800 in California, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 18060007. It drains a watershed of about 886 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1904. Typical flow runs near 0.4 cfs in July and 3.6 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- California
- Drainage area
- 886 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 743 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 18060007
- Coordinates
- 35.02191, -120.22845
- USGS site number
- 11136800
- Records begin
- 1904-03-12 (122 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 67 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0.7 | 49.9 | |
| February | 0 | 2.6 | 155.7 | |
| March | 0 | 5.1 | 197.7 | |
| April | 0 | 3.6 | 68.2 | |
| May | 0 | 1.6 | 18.3 | |
| June | 0 | 0.7 | 9.5 | |
| July | 0 | 0.4 | 4 | |
| August | 0 | 0.2 | 2.1 | |
| September | 0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | |
| October | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | |
| November | 0 | 0 | 2.6 | |
| December | 0 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA normally run highest?
- March, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 5.1 cfs, against 0 cfs in October, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 0.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 49.9 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 11136800 begin in 1904, about 122 years, covering roughly 9,126 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA?
- The gauge sits at 35.02191, -120.22845, in California, in hydrologic subbasin 18060007, at an elevation of about 743 feet, draining roughly 886 square miles.
- Can I use Cuyama River below Buckhorn Cyn near Santa Maria, CA data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.