Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09166500

Dolores River at Dolores, CO

Dolores River at Dolores, CO is USGS streamgage 09166500 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14030002. It sits on the Dolores River, alongside 6 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 504 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1895. Typical flow runs near 286.7 cfs in July and 607.5 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Colorado
Drainage area
504 sq mi
Gauge elevation
6,957 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14030002
Coordinates
37.4725, -108.4976
USGS site number
09166500
Records begin
1895-10-01 (131 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Dolores River at Dolores, 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
23 26.5 30
20.8 25.2 31.1
19.6 24.7 32.3
20.9 28.9 52.9
24.8 42.2 103
30.8 65.9 196
40.7 88.5 209
35.4 73.8 158
29.4 57.3 120
27.2 49.5 102
25.6 44 88
22.5 36.7 70.3
21.4 34.6 64.8
21.6 34.8 65.2

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 131 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 29.5 45.6 76.6
February 31.8 50.8 84.2
March 49 97.7 264.1
April 219 607.5 1,395.1
May 620.4 1,489.7 3,031.9
June 318.7 1,068.9 2,537
July 113 286.7 793.7
August 84.1 195.9 386.3
September 52.3 128.2 315.2
October 43.1 89.5 243
November 36.7 63.7 134.4
December 30.4 49.4 88.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Dolores River at Dolores, CO normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,489.7 cfs, against 45.6 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 Dolores River at Dolores, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 45.6 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 29.5 and 76.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Dolores River at Dolores, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09166500 begin in 1895, about 131 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 Dolores River at Dolores, 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. 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 Dolores River at Dolores, CO?
The gauge sits at 37.4725, -108.4976, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14030002, at an elevation of about 6,957 feet, draining roughly 504 square miles.
Can I use Dolores River at Dolores, 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 Dolores River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin