2 USGS Streamgages · New York Slough system
Big C flows and levels
Big C is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in California, each tracked by Rivermatics. It feeds the Big Creek. It drains into the New York Slough system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 81 square miles at Big C below Huntington Lake, CA up to 131 at Big C near Mouth near Big Creek, CA. The gauged reach falls about 4,010 feet, from 6,630 feet down to 2,620.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big C below Huntington Lake, CA | CA | 81 | 6,630 | 3.1 | 2.9 | — |
| Big C near Mouth near Big Creek, CA | CA | 131 | 2,620 | 5.9 | 5.7 | — |
Typical flow by month at Big C near Mouth near Big Creek, CA
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 103 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 | 1.4 | 4.7 | 118 | |
| February | 1.5 | 5.3 | 186.9 | |
| March | 1.5 | 5.3 | 386.8 | |
| April | 2.4 | 5.9 | 302.1 | |
| May | 2.6 | 5.9 | 477.1 | |
| June | 2.6 | 6.2 | 462.6 | |
| July | 2.1 | 5.7 | 245.8 | |
| August | 1.3 | 4.8 | 214.5 | |
| September | 0.8 | 4.3 | 411 | |
| October | 1.1 | 4.3 | 67.5 | |
| November | 1.1 | 4.6 | 118.6 | |
| December | 1.1 | 4.2 | 144.3 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Big C run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Big C near Mouth near Big Creek, CA — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 6.2 cfs that month, against 4.2 cfs in December, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Big C?
- Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the Big C, across California. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- What river system is the Big C part of?
- The Big C drains into the New York Slough system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Big C 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.
Other rivers in the New York Slough system
- Nf Stanislaus River 4 gauges
- Tuolumne River 4 gauges
- Cherry C 3 gauges
- Angels C 2 gauges
- Bear River 2 gauges
- Cole C 2 gauges
- Merced River 2 gauges
- Nf Mokelumne River 2 gauges