River Conditions
Illustrated map of Beaver Kill and Willowemoc

River stage

Garbutt, Oatka Creek

River level
2.38 ft
Status
Below flood stage
7-day change
-0.01 ft
Recent high
3.53 ft
Recent low
2.38 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS GRBN6

30-day change
-0.16 ft
Average
2.56 ft
Readings
122
Data span
122 days
Record crest
8.64 ft

In brief

The Oatka Creek at Garbutt, NY read 2.38 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 2.62 ft below action stage. That is 0.16 ft lower than 30 days earlier.

Source: National Weather Service gauge GRBN6

River level timeline

1.82.12.52.83.1SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13HIGH 2.54LOW 2.382.38 ftLAST READING

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 5.00 ftMinor flooding 6.00 ftModerate flooding 7.00 ftMajor flooding 8.00 ft CURRENT 2.38 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 8.64 ft 1960-03-31
2 8.57 ft 1998-01-09
3 8.52 ft 1950-03-29
4 8.38 ft 1956-03-08
5 8.18 ft 1976-03-05
6 7.97 ft 1955-03-02
7 7.83 ft 1993-03-31
8 7.50 ft 2007-03-15

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 5.00 ft

    Action stage, some minor overflow into agricultural lands near confluence with Genesee River. No damages.

  2. 6.00 ft

    Flood stage, general flooding of agricultural land begins, some basement flooding in Scottsville and Garbutt.

  3. 7.00 ft

    Moderate flood, widespread flooding of agricultural lands below LeRoy. Significant residential flooding along creek, especially in Mumford, Wheatland, and Scottsville. Roadway flooding begins. Some backwater effects possible from Genesee River near Scottsville.

  4. 8.00 ft

    Major flood, extensive residential flooding along creek. Major damages in Mumford, Wheatland, Scottsville, and Garbutt. Roadways closed. Widespread agricultural flooding near the creek in Monroe and Genesee counties. Probable backwater effects from Genesee River.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Trout stocking on the Oatka Creek

NYSDEC's 2026 spring schedule lists 2 trout releases on the Oatka Creek, 1,800 fish in total, the first in the third week of April. Brown Trout at 12-15 inches and 9-10 inches. NYSDEC's published figures for 2025, the most recent season it has confirmed, record 2,830 trout actually released here across 2 visits.

SpeciesFish SizeWhen
Brown Trout 190 12-15 inches April - third week
Brown Trout 1,610 9-10 inches April - third week

NYSDEC lists a week or a month rather than a date, and notes that actual stocking can differ with fish availability and weather. Released at Wheatland, Monroe County. Full New York stocking schedule →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Oatka Creek flooding at Garbutt?

No. The Oatka Creek at Garbutt is at 2.38 ft, 2.62 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Garbutt?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 5 ft, minor flooding 6 ft, moderate flooding 7 ft and major flooding 8 ft.

What is the highest the Oatka Creek has been at Garbutt?

The highest crest on record is 8.64 ft, on 1960-03-31.

Is the Oatka Creek high or low right now at Garbutt?

At 2.38 ft it is higher than 0% of readings over the last 122 days.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge GRBN6); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 04230500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.