Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09239500

Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO

Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO is USGS streamgage 09239500 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 14050001. It sits on the Yampa River, alongside 7 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 567 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1904. Typical flow runs near 250.1 cfs in July and 554.4 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, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Colorado
Drainage area
567 sq mi
Gauge elevation
6,701 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
14050001
Coordinates
40.48299, -106.83243
USGS site number
09239500
Records begin
1904-05-25 (122 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, 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
39.7 41.7 44
38.3 41.2 45
37 41 47.1
38.6 44.7 58
40.2 48.1 65.1
42.4 53 77.5
45.9 61.7 96.5
45.9 63 96.1
43.6 58.4 85.5
40.9 53.7 76.3
38.3 49.9 69.6
36.6 47.4 65.2
35.3 45.5 61.8
34.8 44.7 60.4

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 68.1 97.1 131.8
February 72 98.6 134.5
March 92.3 143.5 271.6
April 261 554.4 1,133.8
May 845.9 1,644.5 2,671.9
June 574.5 1,626.9 3,103.7
July 91 250.1 755.5
August 66.9 128.5 250.2
September 51.8 96 175
October 72.1 115.8 219.3
November 81.3 122.1 180
December 67.5 100.3 146.2

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,644.5 cfs, against 96 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 Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 97.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 68.1 and 131.8 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09239500 begin in 1904, about 122 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 Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, 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 Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, CO?
The gauge sits at 40.48299, -106.83243, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 14050001, at an elevation of about 6,701 feet, draining roughly 567 square miles.
Can I use Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, 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 Yampa River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin