Rivermatics

2 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

Sand Creek flows and levels

Sand Creek is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 43 miles (69 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 187 square miles at Sand Creek above Burlington Ditch near Commerce City, CO up to 187 at Sand Creek at Mouth near Commerce City, CO. 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
Sand Creek above Burlington Ditch near Commerce City, CO CO 187 5,122 20 16.7 14-day
Sand Creek at Mouth near Commerce City, CO CO 187 — 31.5 58.1 14-day

Typical flow by month at Sand Creek at Mouth near Commerce City, 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 35 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 10.2 14.5 26.2
February 9.9 16 47.2
March 10.5 19.1 100.2
April 12.6 31.5 148.8
May 15.1 53 175.5
June 10.8 45.9 172.3
July 12.1 58.1 180.5
August 10.2 53.1 158.9
September 9 27.6 124
October 9.3 18.8 76.1
November 10.4 16.7 41.1
December 10.4 14.7 29.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Sand Creek run highest?
July, on the long-term record at Sand Creek at Mouth near Commerce City, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 58.1 cfs that month, against 14.5 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 Sand Creek?
Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the Sand Creek, 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 Sand Creek?
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 Sand Creek part of?
The Sand Creek drains into the Mississippi 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 Sand Creek 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 Mississippi River system

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