Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09168730

Dolores River near Slick Rock, CO

Dolores River near Slick Rock, CO is USGS streamgage 09168730 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 1,434 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1997. Typical flow runs near 62.7 cfs in July and 100.3 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
1,434 sq mi
Gauge elevation
5,436 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14030002
Coordinates
38.04444, -108.90538
USGS site number
09168730
Records begin
1997-05-01 (29 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Dolores River near Slick Rock, 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
0 0 0.1
0 0 0.2
0 0 0.2
0 0 1.9
0 0.1 11.2
0 0.5 37.2
0 1.3 75.2
0.1 1.9 42.8
0.1 2.2 35.6
0.1 2.2 25
0.1 2 19.6
0.1 1.5 20.7
0 0.7 19.4
0 1.2 15.6

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 29 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 13.5 30 51.8
February 20.5 33.1 54.7
March 17.8 52 158.8
April 17.8 100.3 1,211.2
May 14 88.9 2,477.1
June 3.8 74.7 1,178
July 6 62.7 150.9
August 12.1 62.6 132
September 11.7 38.7 76.9
October 17.1 38 103.8
November 20.3 29.4 56.2
December 14.6 26.3 45.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Dolores River near Slick Rock, CO normally run highest?
April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 100.3 cfs, against 26.3 cfs in December, 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 near Slick Rock, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 30 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 13.5 and 51.8 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Dolores River near Slick Rock, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09168730 begin in 1997, about 29 years, covering roughly 5,610 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 near Slick Rock, 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 near Slick Rock, CO?
The gauge sits at 38.04444, -108.90538, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14030002, at an elevation of about 5,436 feet, draining roughly 1,434 square miles.
Can I use Dolores River near Slick Rock, 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