Rivermatics

5 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

Uncompahgre River flows and levels

Uncompahgre River is gauged at 5 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 77 miles (125 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 77 square miles at Uncompahgre River near Ouray, CO up to 1,114 at Uncompahgre River at Delta, CO. The gauged reach falls about 2,666 feet, from 7,600 feet down to 4,934. 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
Uncompahgre River near Ouray, CO CO 77 7,600 90.8 146.9 14-day
Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, CO CO 149 6,893 101.9 267.3 14-day
Uncompahgre River below Ridgway Reservoir, CO CO 265 6,649 191.6 379.1 14-day
Uncompahgre River at Colona, CO CO 448 6,328 228.2 366 14-day + temp
Uncompahgre River at Delta, CO CO 1,114 4,934 230.8 228.2 14-day + temp

Typical flow by month at Uncompahgre River at Delta, 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 88 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 101.2 148.5 201.8
February 94.7 140 198.6
March 84.5 164.4 311.9
April 86.1 230.8 589.7
May 121.9 363.2 914.6
June 148.3 443.1 1,029.4
July 118.1 228.2 652.3
August 125.5 227.6 579.4
September 191.7 365.6 676
October 227.8 416.2 705.2
November 157 280 392.5
December 121.1 182.9 252.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Uncompahgre River run highest?
June, on the long-term record at Uncompahgre River at Delta, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 443.1 cfs that month, against 140 cfs in February, 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 Uncompahgre River?
Rivermatics tracks 5 USGS streamgages on the Uncompahgre 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 Uncompahgre River?
Yes, at 5 of the 5 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 Uncompahgre River part of?
The Uncompahgre 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 Uncompahgre 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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