9 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system
Animas River flows and levels
Animas River is gauged at 9 USGS streamgages in Colorado and New Mexico, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 126 miles (203 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 71 square miles at Animas River at Silverton, CO up to 1,360 at Animas River at Farmington, NM. The gauged reach falls about 4,012 feet, from 9,290 feet down to 5,278. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook for every one of them.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animas River at Silverton, CO | CO | 71 | 9,290 | 64.5 | 167.9 | 14-day |
| Animas River below Silverton, CO | CO | 146 | 9,196 | 159.1 | 354.5 | 14-day + temp |
| Animas River at Tall Timber Resort above Tacoma, CO | CO | 338 | 7,689 | 402.5 | 566.6 | 14-day |
| Animas River at Durango, CO | CO | 701 | 6,507 | 723.2 | 905 | 14-day + temp |
| Animas River below Durango Pump Plant near Durango, CO | CO | 775 | 6,423 | 677.6 | 610.8 | 14-day |
| Animas River near Cedar Hill, NM | CO | 1,090 | 5,974 | 905.1 | 889.2 | 14-day |
| Animas River below Aztec, NM | NM | 1,301 | 5,558 | 664.9 | 538.2 | 14-day |
| Animas River at Penny Lane near Flora Vista, NM | NM | 1,340 | 5,451 | 368.1 | 391.2 | 14-day |
| Animas River at Farmington, NM | NM | 1,360 | 5,278 | 802.3 | 757.3 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at Animas River at Farmington, NM
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 110 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 | 191.8 | 254.6 | 370 | |
| February | 192.1 | 268.6 | 423.8 | |
| March | 197.6 | 365.6 | 804.8 | |
| April | 219.8 | 802.3 | 1,864 | |
| May | 739.7 | 1,968.1 | 4,288.1 | |
| June | 781.7 | 2,336.7 | 5,518.3 | |
| July | 156.8 | 757.3 | 2,406.1 | |
| August | 52.5 | 347.3 | 963.6 | |
| September | 63.9 | 268.3 | 938.8 | |
| October | 154 | 316.6 | 744.2 | |
| November | 209.4 | 306.5 | 505.7 | |
| December | 199.3 | 273.1 | 413.2 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Animas River run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Animas River at Farmington, NM — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 2,336.7 cfs that month, against 254.6 cfs in January, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Animas River?
- Rivermatics tracks 9 USGS streamgages on the Animas River, across Colorado and New Mexico. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- Is there a flow forecast for the Animas River?
- Yes, at 9 of the 9 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
- What river system is the Animas River part of?
- The Animas River drains into the Colorado River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Animas River 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 rivers in the Colorado River system
- Gila River 17 gauges
- San Juan River 10 gauges
- Gore Creek 9 gauges
- Green River 9 gauges
- Little Colorado River 9 gauges
- Virgin River 8 gauges
- Yampa River 8 gauges
- Dolores River 7 gauges