Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

San Miguel River flows and levels

San Miguel River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 86 miles (138 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 309 square miles at San Miguel River near Placerville, CO up to 1,500 at San Miguel River at Uravan, CO. The gauged reach falls about 2,112 feet, from 7,110 feet down to 4,998. 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.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
San Miguel River near Placerville, CO CO 309 7,110 187.8 341.8 14-day
San Miguel River at Brooks Bridge near Nucla, CO CO 743 5,581 376.6 174.3 14-day
San Miguel River at Uravan, CO CO 1,500 4,998 518.2 266.9 14-day

Typical flow by month at San Miguel River at Uravan, 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 72 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 50.1 78.4 125.6
February 58.2 92.8 146.2
March 67.3 131.3 385.6
April 139.1 518.2 1,649
May 211.3 797.5 2,066.5
June 231.3 743.6 1,646.3
July 48.1 266.9 776.5
August 25.4 123.3 351.2
September 25.3 74.7 277.6
October 56.5 110.6 252.9
November 61.8 95.1 171.3
December 50.2 80.7 137.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the San Miguel River run highest?
May, on the long-term record at San Miguel River at Uravan, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 797.5 cfs that month, against 74.7 cfs in September, 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 San Miguel River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the San Miguel 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 San Miguel River?
Yes, at 3 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 San Miguel River part of?
The San Miguel 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 San Miguel 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

Browse nearby gauges by state