Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09246500

Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO

Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO is USGS streamgage 09246500 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 222 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1906. Typical flow runs near 6.9 cfs in July and 315.8 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
222 sq mi
Gauge elevation
6,229 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14050001
Coordinates
40.53107, -107.43621
USGS site number
09246500
Records begin
1906-05-30 (120 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Elkhead Creek near Craig, 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
53.4 60.5 68.3
51.7 60.5 72
49.4 59.7 74.7
46.9 59.3 79.6
44.2 58.4 83.1
42.1 58.2 93
39.7 58.1 92.6
37 57.3 90
34.8 57 90.6
30.8 56.1 88.7
25.6 52.9 88.2
19.6 46.6 74.1
17.2 45.6 73
14.4 44.6 71.9

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 116 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 1.8 5.1 13
February 2.7 6 16.9
March 4.8 35 134.8
April 88.5 315.8 655.8
May 101.1 498.5 1,268.7
June 6.3 117.4 536.9
July 0.1 6.9 49
August 0.1 6.2 63.9
September 0.7 36.5 70.5
October 1.8 6.5 34.9
November 1.3 4.5 11
December 1.4 4.7 12.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 498.5 cfs, against 4.5 cfs in November, 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 near Craig, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 5.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 1.8 and 13 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09246500 begin in 1906, about 120 years, covering roughly 6,588 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Elkhead Creek near Craig, 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 Elkhead Creek near Craig, CO?
The gauge sits at 40.53107, -107.43621, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,229 feet, draining roughly 222 square miles.
Can I use Elkhead Creek near Craig, 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.

Other gauges in this subbasin