Rivermatics

5 USGS Streamgages · Colorado River system

Williams Fork flows and levels

Williams Fork is gauged at 5 USGS streamgages in Colorado, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 38 miles (61 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Colorado River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 16 square miles at Williams Fork below Steelman Creek, CO up to 230 at Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir, CO. The gauged reach falls about 2,239 feet, from 9,858 feet down to 7,619. 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
Williams Fork below Steelman Creek, CO CO 16 9,858 2.8 40.8 14-day
Williams Fork above Darling Creek, near Leal, CO CO 35 8,942 12.1 76.3 14-day
Williams Fork near Leal, CO CO 90 8,797 34.7 167.6 14-day
Williams Fork near Parshall, CO CO 184 7,815 74.2 141.5 14-day + temp
Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir, CO CO 230 7,619 63.4 148.8 14-day

Typical flow by month at Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir, 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 78 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 38.7 74.9 155.2
February 34.6 65.8 126.7
March 33.8 64.9 145.8
April 14.1 63.4 177
May 13.7 62.4 318.3
June 15 170.8 736
July 19.1 148.8 376.8
August 59.7 162.8 265.8
September 66.4 147.8 264.4
October 57.2 116 230.1
November 51 111.6 236.6
December 40.5 86 165.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Williams Fork run highest?
June, on the long-term record at Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir, CO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 170.8 cfs that month, against 62.4 cfs in May, 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 Williams Fork?
Rivermatics tracks 5 USGS streamgages on the Williams Fork, 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 Williams Fork?
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 Williams Fork part of?
The Williams Fork 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 Williams Fork 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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