Big Black River near Depot Mountain, ME
River level and flood forecast · Aroostook County
The river is 10.3 ft below flood stage (13.5 ft).
Flow: 27 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Much lower than normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 52 to 277 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 43 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Big Black River near Depot Mountain to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 13.5 ft |
| Action stage | 12.5 ft |
| Record crest (April 1, 1987) | 15.62 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 17 ftThe Depot Road bridge is fully inundated and likely damaged by debris. Extensive forest flooding occurs from the Maine and Quebec border downstream to Maibec Road. Remote sporting camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the Depot Road gage in T14 R15 WELS experience significant inundation.
- 16 ftExtremely dangerous flood flows reach the lower bridge supports on Depot Road in T14 R16 WELS. Up to 2 feet of swiftly moving water overruns the south side of the Depot Road river crossing. Floodwaters surround and isolate remote sporting camps about 3 miles downstream of the gage in T14 R15 WELS. Remote wilderness forests downstream of the gage face widespread inundation of 2 to 5 feet. Overall flooding is similar to the April 1987 event.
- 15 ftFloodwaters begin to isolate wilderness camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the Depot Road gage. Backwater flooding into forested areas may completely cut off these camps from the North Woods road network. Depot Road experiences up to 1 foot of dangerously fast-flowing water on the south side of the river crossing.
- 13.5 ftDepot Road begins to flood on the right bank of the river due to constrictions at the Depot Road bridge. Floodwaters threaten remote wilderness camps approximately 3 miles downstream of the gage. Significant flooding occurs in low-lying forests from the Quebec border downstream to the Maibec Road bridge, alongside minor flooding of properties along the Maine and Quebec border.
- 12.5 ftThe river floods primarily rural, forested areas of the North Woods. Water begins to threaten remote wilderness camps downstream of the Depot Road gage.
- 12 ftThe river approaches bankfull and begins spilling into mainly rural forests, threatening low-lying property along the Maine and Quebec border.
Highest crests on record
- 15.62 ft — April 1, 1987
- 14.59 ft — April 17, 1994
- 14.17 ft — April 2, 1986
- 14.03 ft — April 21, 2019
- 13.88 ft — April 30, 2008
Recent crests: 9.3 ft (April 28, 2025) · 10.76 ft (April 14, 2024) · 11.13 ft (December 19, 2023) · 11.28 ft (September 20, 2023) · 14.03 ft (April 21, 2019)
Highest flow on record
8,680 cubic feet per second — April 1, 1987. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1984.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BBRM1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.