Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

North Fork Gunnison River flows and levels

North Fork Gunnison River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 61 miles (98 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 525 square miles at North Fork Gunnison River near Somerset, CO up to 969 at North Fk Gunnison River above Mouth near Lazear, CO. The gauged reach falls about 991 feet, from 6,093 feet down to 5,102. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 2 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.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
North Fork Gunnison River near Somerset, CO CO 525 6,093 576.4 324.6 14-day
North Fork Gunnison River below Paonia, CO CO 744 5,568 818.7 31.2 —
North Fk Gunnison River above Mouth near Lazear, CO CO 969 5,102 668.5 158.5 14-day + temp

Typical flow by month at North Fk Gunnison River above Mouth near Lazear, CO

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 17 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 81.2 133.9 185.3
February 84.9 120 236.2
March 110.4 187.8 510.5
April 148.1 668.5 2,038.7
May 359.9 1,345.3 3,792.6
June 128.8 1,181.6 3,130
July 63 158.5 966.9
August 65.3 116.3 217.2
September 50.5 129.2 235.3
October 101.5 171.6 305.4
November 98 166.8 234.8
December 88.7 141.3 202.2

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the North Fork Gunnison River run highest?
May, on the long-term record at North Fk Gunnison River above Mouth near Lazear, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 1,345.3 cfs that month, against 116.3 cfs in August, 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 North Fork Gunnison River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the North Fork Gunnison River, across Colorado. 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 North Fork Gunnison River?
Yes, at 2 of the 3 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 North Fork Gunnison River part of?
The North Fork Gunnison 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 North Fork Gunnison 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

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