Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09371520

McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO

McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO is USGS streamgage 09371520 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14080202. It sits on the Mcelmo Creek, alongside 2 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 234 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1993. Typical flow runs near 53.7 cfs in July and 18.9 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Colorado
Drainage area
234 sq mi
Gauge elevation
5,651 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14080202
Coordinates
37.32666, -108.70066
USGS site number
09371520
Records begin
1993-08-01 (33 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, 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
4.3 5.3 7
3.7 5.2 10.5
3.5 5.5 12.8
4.2 8.5 30
6.2 18 87.2
10.2 36.8 205
13.2 51.8 247
10 34.7 112
8.3 27.2 73.4
6.5 20.5 55
5.3 15.3 44.3
4.6 12.7 39.3
4.2 11.2 37
4.1 11 35.5

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 33 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 11.2 19.2 41.9
February 12.1 22.1 60.8
March 13 22.5 77.9
April 8.6 18.9 51.6
May 21.3 38.2 83.1
June 24.5 47.3 90.9
July 25.1 53.7 105.5
August 25.3 69.4 129.3
September 25.6 76.1 134.7
October 18.9 53.9 105.1
November 14.5 27.5 60
December 11.4 21.8 39.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO normally run highest?
September, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 76.1 cfs, against 18.9 cfs in April, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 19.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 11.2 and 41.9 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09371520 begin in 1993, about 33 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 McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, 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. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. 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 McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, CO?
The gauge sits at 37.32666, -108.70066, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14080202, at an elevation of about 5,651 feet, draining roughly 234 square miles.
Can I use McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near Cortez, 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 Mcelmo Creek

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

Other gauges in this subbasin