Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09129600

Smith Fork near Lazear, CO

Smith Fork near Lazear, CO is USGS streamgage 09129600 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14020002. It drains a watershed of about 167 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1976. Typical flow runs near 2 cfs in July and 4.1 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
167 sq mi
Gauge elevation
5,858 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14020002
Coordinates
38.70744, -107.71014
USGS site number
09129600
Records begin
1976-06-01 (50 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 50 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 1.6 2.9 31.6
February 1.8 2.9 38.7
March 2.2 4.9 102.9
April 0.9 4.1 169.2
May 0.7 31.9 334.5
June 0.2 29.7 235.5
July 0 2 28.8
August 0.4 2.5 12.2
September 0.8 3.3 8.9
October 1.1 3.3 11.2
November 1.7 3.7 11.1
December 1.6 3.3 31.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Smith Fork near Lazear, CO normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 31.9 cfs, against 2 cfs in July, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Smith Fork near Lazear, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 2.9 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 1.6 and 31.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Smith Fork near Lazear, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09129600 begin in 1976, about 50 years, covering roughly 1,759 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Smith Fork near Lazear, 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 Smith Fork near Lazear, CO?
The gauge sits at 38.70744, -107.71014, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14020002, at an elevation of about 5,858 feet, draining roughly 167 square miles.
Can I use Smith Fork near Lazear, 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