Creeks
Sabino and Tanque Verde creek flow
USGS gauges for Sabino Creek and for Tanque Verde Creek, miles downstream of the falls. The words are an estimate, not a promise you should climb or cross.
Gauges checked at Oct 13, 5:17pm MST.
Sabino Creek
Seven Falls is up Bear Canyon in Sabino Canyon. The nearest gauge is Sabino Creek near Tucson, USGS 09484000, at the mouth of the canyon. Bear Canyon joins Sabino Creek above the gauge, so the number mixes both creeks. It is not a measurement at the falls themselves.
Seven Falls hike. Sabino Canyon.
Sabino Creek near Tucson, AZ (USGS 09484000)
Discharge 6.88 cfs at 4:15pm MST (Provisional).
Gage height 1.20 ft at 4:15pm MST.
Estimate: flowing. A rough label, not a green light to cross or climb.
Gage height is the mark on this gauge, not the depth you would step into.
Provisional USGS data can be revised. USGS page.
Tanque Verde Creek downstream
Tanque Verde Falls is in the canyon along Redington Road. USGS 09484500, Tanque Verde Creek at Tucson, is miles downstream in town. It is a creek reading, not a falls reading. Water at the falls can be different from water at this gauge.
Downstream creek gauge (Tanque Verde Creek at Tucson)
Discharge 0.00 cfs at 4:00pm MST (Provisional).
Gage height 4.95 ft at 4:00pm MST.
Tanque Verde Creek at Tucson, miles downstream of the falls: dry. The falls can still run when this gauge reads zero.
Gage height is the mark on this gauge, not the depth you would step into.
Provisional USGS data can be revised. USGS page.
What the words mean
Dry, low trickle, flowing, and high and dangerous come from the discharge, in cubic feet per second (cfs). The cutoffs are listed with the other methods, and they are an estimate, not a flood warning. Gage height is the mark on that gauge. A high mark with no discharge can still be a dry sandy bed. Don't head down to the water just because a number looks low.
A reading older than 6 hours is marked old. If the number is old, look at the USGS page linked with the gauge before you go.
Summer flood notes are on Tucson flooding today and in the monsoon guide.