2 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system
La Plata River flows and levels
La Plata River is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in New Mexico, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 66 miles (107 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 351 square miles at La Plata River at La Plata, NM up to 583 at La Plata River near Farmington, NM. The gauged reach falls about 528 feet, from 5,749 feet down to 5,221. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata River at La Plata, NM | NM | 351 | 5,749 | 2 | 0.3 | 14-day |
| La Plata River near Farmington, NM | NM | 583 | 5,221 | 7.5 | 0.4 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at La Plata River near 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 83 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 | 0.6 | 10.4 | 33.5 | |
| February | 0.9 | 14.6 | 43.1 | |
| March | 0.2 | 13.1 | 88.4 | |
| April | 0 | 7.5 | 256.2 | |
| May | 0 | 2.7 | 190 | |
| June | 0 | 1.9 | 109.9 | |
| July | 0 | 0.4 | 16.8 | |
| August | 0 | 0.6 | 23 | |
| September | 0 | 0.7 | 15.3 | |
| October | 0 | 1.4 | 22.8 | |
| November | 0.1 | 2.9 | 28.5 | |
| December | 0.1 | 6.9 | 31.9 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the La Plata River run highest?
- February, on the long-term record at La Plata River near Farmington, NM — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 14.6 cfs that month, against 0.4 cfs in July, 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 La Plata River?
- Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the La Plata River, across 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 La Plata River?
- Yes, at 2 of the 2 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 La Plata River part of?
- The La Plata 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 La Plata 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
- Animas River 9 gauges
- Gore Creek 9 gauges
- Green River 9 gauges
- Little Colorado River 9 gauges
- Virgin River 8 gauges
- Yampa River 8 gauges