USGS Streamgage 09246200
Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO
Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO is USGS streamgage 09246200 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14050001. It sits on the Elkhead Creek, alongside 1 other gauge Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 171 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1995. Typical flow runs near 8.6 cfs in July and 304.5 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- Colorado
- Drainage area
- 171 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 6,411 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 14050001
- Coordinates
- 40.59167, -107.32028
- USGS site number
- 09246200
- Records begin
- 1995-08-11 (31 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 31 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.1 | 5.8 | 15.6 | |
| February | 3.5 | 6.6 | 16.7 | |
| March | 7.9 | 29.5 | 148.7 | |
| April | 108.6 | 304.5 | 682.7 | |
| May | 160.9 | 509.2 | 1,294.2 | |
| June | 14.1 | 98.1 | 365.9 | |
| July | 0.8 | 8.6 | 34.6 | |
| August | 0 | 2.2 | 9.9 | |
| September | 0 | 2.1 | 8.7 | |
| October | 2.4 | 6.1 | 14.8 | |
| November | 3.4 | 6.7 | 15.5 | |
| December | 2.8 | 5.3 | 15.4 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 509.2 cfs, against 2.1 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 5.8 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 3.1 and 15.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 09246200 begin in 1995, about 31 years, covering roughly 9,118 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO?
- The gauge sits at 40.59167, -107.32028, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,411 feet, draining roughly 171 square miles.
- Can I use Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, 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 Elkhead Creek
Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Elkhead Creek in full.
- Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden, CO this page
- Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO 222 sq mi
Other gauges in this subbasin
- Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO
- Yampa River below Craig, CO
- Yampa River above Stagecoach Reservoir, CO
- Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir, CO
- Fish Creek at Upper Sta near Steamboat Springs, CO
- Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO
- Yampa River below Soda Creek at Steamboat Springs, CO
- Elk River near Milner, CO