Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09242500

Elk River near Milner, CO

Elk River near Milner, CO is USGS streamgage 09242500 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14050001. It drains a watershed of about 448 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1904. Typical flow runs near 451.9 cfs in July and 670.7 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
448 sq mi
Gauge elevation
6,586 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14050001
Coordinates
40.51468, -106.95397
USGS site number
09242500
Records begin
1904-05-24 (122 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Elk River near Milner, 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
28.2 32 35.7
25.7 31 37.6
23.7 30.1 38.4
25.8 34.3 51.7
28.3 39.8 62
32.9 52.1 102
38 66.2 130
38.2 67.7 129
36.6 62.5 110
33.4 55.6 96.1
31.9 51.5 84.5
30.6 50.1 84.4
30.8 50.6 83.1
29.6 48.8 80.3

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 122 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 52 82.5 116.9
February 52 84.9 122
March 70.3 139.9 301.6
April 325.7 670.7 1,342
May 1,113 2,005.5 3,476.8
June 918.6 2,090.3 3,672
July 166 451.9 1,219
August 52.7 122 268.1
September 41.2 82.6 169.4
October 65.5 113.7 240.9
November 63.6 97.4 174.2
December 53.4 86.5 121.2

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Elk River near Milner, CO normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 2,090.3 cfs, against 82.5 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 Elk River near Milner, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 82.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 52 and 116.9 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Elk River near Milner, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09242500 begin in 1904, about 122 years, covering roughly 8,536 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Elk River near Milner, 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 Elk River near Milner, CO?
The gauge sits at 40.51468, -106.95397, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,586 feet, draining roughly 448 square miles.
Can I use Elk River near Milner, 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.

Other gauges in this subbasin