River stage
Bartlett, Saco River
- River level
- 2.61 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.06 ft
- Recent high
- 4.27 ft
- Recent low
- 2.47 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BLTN3
- 30-day change
- -0.03 ft
- Average
- 2.82 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 14.83 ft
In brief
The Saco River at Bartlett, NH read 2.61 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 2.39 ft below action stage. That is 0.03 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge BLTN3
Water 50 °F (10 °C) · about normal for this date · -8 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14.83 ft | 2011-08-28 |
| 2 | 13.93 ft | 2017-10-30 |
| 3 | 13.87 ft | 2023-12-18 |
| 4 | 10.66 ft | 2023-05-01 |
| 5 | 9.85 ft | 2014-04-15 |
| 6 | 9.10 ft | 2012-10-30 |
| 7 | 8.78 ft | 2017-07-02 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 5.00 ft
High streamflows are expected but no flooding occurs in Bartlett. High risk for recreational paddlers.
- 6.00 ft
Downstream riverside campgrounds from Glen Ellis to Conway flooded hours later. Campers should move to higher ground.
- 9.00 ft
River out of banks in Bartlett. Backwater on the Ellis River combined with the Saco River high flows will inundate campground property in Glen Ellis.
- 10.00 ft
Minor flooding to properties along River Street in Bartlett. Significant flooding likely along downstream campgrounds from Glen Ellis, North Conway, and Conway.
- 12.00 ft
Minor flooding occurs on River Street. Flood waters approach properties on Cobb Farm Road.
- 12.50 ft
Moderate flooding to homes on River Street in Bartlett. Homes along Sleepy Hollow Road in Glen flooded. Flood waters encroach on properties off Pine Glen Road and Bartlett Place Road. Backwater on the Rocky Branch impacts properties off Sleepy Hollow Road. Significant flooding expected downstream in North Conway.
- 13.00 ft
Severe Flooding on River Street, upper West Side Road, and Cobb Farm Road in Bartlett. Flood waters affect propertly along Route 302 and Covered Bridge in Bartlett. River Road First Bridge in North Conway flooded. Inundation near the FEMA 1 percent flood hazard level.
- 13.50 ft
Flood inundation near the FEMA 0.2 percent flood hazard level.
- 14.80 ft
Extremely severe flooding comparable to the flooding from Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. Numerous homes and businesses from Bartlett to North Conway damaged by water depths of several feet. Rural lands and roads along the Saco River are inundated and damaged by swift currents. Hundreds of homes inaccessible due to floodwaters.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Saco River flooding at Bartlett?
No. The Saco River at Bartlett is at 2.61 ft, 2.39 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Bartlett?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 5 ft, minor flooding 10 ft, moderate flooding 12.5 ft and major flooding 13 ft.
What is the highest the Saco River has been at Bartlett?
The highest crest on record is 14.83 ft, on 2011-08-28.
Is the Saco River high or low right now at Bartlett?
At 2.61 ft it is higher than 32% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Bartlett, Saco River?
The water temperature at Bartlett, Saco River is 50 °F (10.3 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS, which is about average for this date over the past ten years. It has fallen 8.1 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BLTN3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 010642505). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.