This page collects the official records from Bayou Bartholomew’s gauges at Garrett Bridge in Lincoln County, near McGehee in Desha County, and near Portland and at Wilmot in Ashley County.
Updated Oct. 18, 2026. We recheck these records when the agencies add new data.
Key facts
- The largest flow USGS has recorded on Bayou Bartholomew near McGehee is 6,870 cubic feet per second, on May 11, 1958. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- The highest crest on the National Weather Service list at Portland is 36.67 feet, on March 15, 2016. (Source: National Weather Service)
- At Wilmot, the top crest on the NWS list is 27.4 feet, on April 29, 1991. (Source: National Weather Service)
- Across 73 complete water years, the bayou has averaged about 730 cubic feet per second near McGehee. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- The lowest approved daily flow near McGehee is 0.1 cubic feet per second, on Oct. 8, 2022. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
How to read these tables
- Crest is the highest water level, in feet, during a flood. It is read on the gauge’s own scale, so a crest of 30 feet does not mean the water was 30 feet deep. Crests from different gauges can’t be compared with each other.
- Flow is how much water passes the gauge, in cubic feet per second (cfs). One cubic foot is about 7.5 gallons.
- Flood stage is the level where the National Weather Service says flooding begins at that spot. “Moderate” and “major” are its higher categories.
- A water year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 and is named for the year it ends in.
- Crest lists come from the National Weather Service. Flow records come from the U.S. Geological Survey. Recent USGS readings are provisional and can be revised; the record tables use only approved readings unless marked.
Data
| Gauge | County | USGS no. | NWS ID | Records | Flood stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayou Bartholomew at Garrett Bridge | Lincoln | 07364133 | - | Daily flow since Oct. 1, 1987 | - |
| Bayou Bartholomew near McGehee | Desha | 07364150 | - | Daily flow since Oct. 1, 1938; yearly peaks since 1930 | - |
| Bayou Bartholomew near Portland | Ashley | 07364185 | BBPA4 | Daily flow since Oct. 1, 1998 | not set by NWS |
| Bayou Bartholomew at Wilmot | Ashley | 07364190 | BBWA4 | USGS yearly peaks 1925-1980; NWS crests | not set by NWS |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey and National Weather Service. Updated .
| Rank | Date | Peak flow (cfs) | Gauge height (feet) | USGS note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 11, 1958 | 6,870 | 24.49 | - |
| 2 | Feb. 11, 1990 | 6,740 | 24.35 | - |
| 3 | March 6, 2018 | 6,070 | 25.09 | - |
| 4 | March 18, 2016 | 6,050 | 25.21 | - |
| 5 | May 5, 1991 | 5,820 | 25.25 | - |
| 6 | May 25, 1953 | 5,660 | 22.5 | daily average, not instant peak |
| 7 | June 17, 2021 | 5,640 | 24.84 | - |
| 8 | March 11, 1997 | 5,610 | 22.74 | - |
| 9 | 1932 | 5,600 | 22.4 | historic peak, before regular records |
| 10 | Dec. 22, 2001 | 5,530 | 24.46 | - |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Peak Streamflow for the Nation. Updated .
| Rank | Date | Crest (feet) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 15, 2016 | 36.67 | - |
| 2 | Nov. 3, 2009 | 36.48 | - |
| 3 | March 6, 2001 | 35.91 | - |
| 4 | May 17, 2009 | 35.63 | - |
| 5 | March 25, 2015 | 35.21 | preliminary |
| 6 | Jan. 21, 2013 | 33.65 | - |
| 7 | May 7, 2003 | 33.09 | - |
| 8 | Jan. 4, 2016 | 32.91 | preliminary |
Source: National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service. Updated .
| Rank | Date | Crest (feet) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 29, 1991 | 27.4 | - |
| 2 | Jan. 3, 1983 | 27.2 | - |
| 3 | March 31, 2016 | 26.98 | - |
| 4 | July 16, 1989 | 26.6 | - |
| 5 | Feb. 22, 1990 | 26.5 | - |
| 6 | Nov. 10, 2016 | 26.42 | - |
| 7 | Jan. 12, 1932 | 26.3 | - |
| 8 | March 19, 1997 | 25.29 | - |
| 9 | Feb. 16, 1994 | 25.2 | - |
| 10 | Jan. 5, 2010 | 25.2 | - |
| 11 | March 30, 2015 | 24.92 | - |
Source: National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service. Updated .
| Rank | Date | Daily average flow (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 8, 2022 | 0.1 |
| 2 | Aug. 15, 1956 | 0.2 |
| 3 | Oct. 20, 2017 | 0.2 |
| 4 | Oct. 7, 2024 | 0.2 |
| 5 | Oct. 27, 2011 | 0.5 |
| 6 | Oct. 20, 2025 | 0.7 |
| 7 | Oct. 22, 2010 | 0.7 |
| 8 | Sept. 30, 2022 | 2.0 |
| 9 | Oct. 23, 2023 | 2.1 |
| 10 | Oct. 24, 1995 | 2.4 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, daily values. Updated .
| Water year | Near McGehee | At Garrett Bridge | Near Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 578 | 363 | 1,343 |
| 2024 | 568 | 314 | 1,232 |
| 2023 | 969 | 680 | 1,670 |
| 2022 | 530 | 397 | 971 |
| 2021 | 1,231 | 788 | 2,164 |
| 2020 | 1,034 | 598 | 2,050 |
| 2019 | 1,515 | 915 | 2,984 |
| 2018 | 1,018 | 698 | 1,730 |
| 2017 | 574 | - | - |
| 2016 | 1,079 | - | - |
| 2015 | 742 | 458 | 1,299 |
| 2014 | 727 | 462 | 1,152 |
| 2013 | 702 | 473 | 1,147 |
| 2012 | 488 | 398 | 749 |
| 2011 | 283 | 240 | 294 |
| 2010 | 1,236 | 744 | 2,086 |
| 2009 | - | 634 | 1,485 |
| 2008 | - | 442 | 1,053 |
| 2007 | - | 285 | 772 |
| 2006 | - | 176 | - |
| 2005 | - | 546 | 1,621 |
| 2004 | - | 418 | 1,392 |
| 2003 | - | 552 | 1,200 |
| 2002 | - | 739 | 2,077 |
| 2001 | - | 525 | 1,576 |
| 2000 | - | 177 | 441 |
| 1999 | 637 | 466 | 1,136 |
| 1998 | 401 | 344 | - |
| 1997 | 1,177 | 945 | - |
| 1996 | 238 | 174 | - |
| 1995 | 530 | 381 | - |
| 1994 | 723 | - | - |
| 1993 | 393 | 306 | - |
| 1992 | 818 | 508 | - |
| 1991 | 1,125 | 782 | - |
| 1990 | 1,156 | 760 | - |
| 1989 | 1,329 | 966 | - |
| 1988 | 735 | 544 | - |
| 1987 | 708 | - | - |
| 1986 | 342 | - | - |
| 1985 | 765 | - | - |
| 1984 | 820 | - | - |
| 1983 | 907 | - | - |
| 1982 | 392 | - | - |
| 1981 | 401 | - | - |
| 1980 | 966 | - | - |
| 1979 | 1,245 | - | - |
| 1978 | 302 | - | - |
| 1977 | 415 | - | - |
| 1976 | 374 | - | - |
| 1975 | 1,124 | - | - |
| 1974 | 1,131 | - | - |
| 1973 | 1,488 | - | - |
| 1972 | 149 | - | - |
| 1971 | 272 | - | - |
| 1970 | 780 | - | - |
| 1969 | 559 | - | - |
| 1968 | 838 | - | - |
| 1967 | 301 | - | - |
| 1966 | 422 | - | - |
| 1965 | 526 | - | - |
| 1964 | 437 | - | - |
| 1963 | 197 | - | - |
| 1962 | 770 | - | - |
| 1961 | 811 | - | - |
| 1960 | 479 | - | - |
| 1959 | 584 | - | - |
| 1958 | 1,472 | - | - |
| 1957 | 786 | - | - |
| 1956 | 418 | - | - |
| 1955 | 429 | - | - |
| 1954 | 240 | - | - |
| 1953 | 975 | - | - |
| 1952 | 624 | - | - |
| 1951 | 602 | - | - |
| 1950 | 1,451 | - | - |
| 1949 | 705 | - | - |
| 1948 | 880 | - | - |
| 1947 | 558 | - | - |
| 1946 | 1,208 | - | - |
| 1941 | 560 | - | - |
| 1940 | 298 | - | - |
| 1939 | 815 | - | - |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (annual statistics). Updated .
Timeline
McGehee: 6,870 cfs peak
Bayou Bartholomew peaked at 6,870 cubic feet per second near McGehee, No. 1 among yearly peaks USGS has recorded there.
McGehee: 6,740 cfs peak
Bayou Bartholomew peaked at 6,740 cubic feet per second near McGehee, No. 2 among yearly peaks USGS has recorded there.
McGehee: 5,820 cfs peak
Bayou Bartholomew peaked at 5,820 cubic feet per second near McGehee, No. 5 among yearly peaks USGS has recorded there.
McGehee: 6,050 cfs peak
Bayou Bartholomew peaked at 6,050 cubic feet per second near McGehee, No. 4 among yearly peaks USGS has recorded there.
McGehee: 6,070 cfs peak
Bayou Bartholomew peaked at 6,070 cubic feet per second near McGehee, No. 3 among yearly peaks USGS has recorded there.
Sources
- USGS 07364150 Bayou Bartholomew near McGehee, AR, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- USGS 07364133 Bayou Bartholomew at Garrett Bridge, AR, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- USGS 07364185 Bayou Bartholomew near Portland, AR, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- Peak streamflow, USGS 07364150, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- Bayou Bartholomew at Portland (BBPA4), National Weather Service. Accessed .
- Bayou Bartholomew at Wilmot (BBWA4), National Weather Service. Accessed .
- Annual statistics, USGS 07364150, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- Daily values, USGS 07364150, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .