Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09070500

Colorado River near Dotsero, CO

Colorado River near Dotsero, CO is USGS streamgage 09070500 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14010001. It sits on the Colorado River, alongside 30 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 4,390 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1940. Typical flow runs near 2,349 cfs in July and 1,562.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Colorado
Drainage area
4,390 sq mi
Gauge elevation
6,130 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14010001
Coordinates
39.64461, -107.07801
USGS site number
09070500
Records begin
1940-12-01 (86 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Colorado River near Dotsero, CO. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
576 614 652
555 604 664
536 596 677
533 611 736
542 639 835
557 677 920
579 731 1,055
574 758 1,153
566 732 1,110
557 702 1,055
545 678 992
534 666 986
521 650 944
511 641 927

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 86 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 597.4 850.3 1,183.9
February 616.8 858.8 1,175.9
March 672 951.9 1,484.2
April 997.8 1,562.3 2,891.3
May 1,901.6 4,037.4 7,987.7
June 1,965 5,813 11,001.3
July 1,301.6 2,349 5,509.7
August 1,152.9 1,524.8 2,505.5
September 963.7 1,330.3 1,723.7
October 870.8 1,211.9 1,682.9
November 760.1 1,011.3 1,398
December 615.5 887.6 1,235.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Colorado River near Dotsero, CO normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 5,813 cfs, against 850.3 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Colorado River near Dotsero, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 850.3 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 597.4 and 1,183.9 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Colorado River near Dotsero, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09070500 begin in 1940, about 86 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Colorado River near Dotsero, CO?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Colorado River near Dotsero, CO?
The gauge sits at 39.64461, -107.07801, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14010001, at an elevation of about 6,130 feet, draining roughly 4,390 square miles.
Can I use Colorado River near Dotsero, CO data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Colorado River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Colorado River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin