St. Vrain Creek At Lyons flow report
As of July 13, 2026, St. Vrain Creek At Lyons is flowing at 73 cfs with a gage height of 3.19 ft, holding steady over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #06724000, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
St. Vrain Creek At Lyons at a glance
How St. Vrain Creek At Lyons is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
St. Vrain Creek At Lyons is flowing at 73 cfs, with the water sitting 3.19 ft at the gage. Flow has held roughly steady over the past 24 hours.
This is USGS gauge #06724000 in Colorado. Over the past 10 days the average has been 84 cfs, peaking at 101 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, St. Vrain Creek At Lyons is expected to hold near today's 73 cfs, toward roughly 74 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 41-134 cfs) -- running well below the seasonal normal.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Colorado flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
St. Vrain Creek At Lyons
Vrain Creek at Lyons, CO streamgauge measures the flow rate of St. Vrain Creek, a major tributary of the South Platte River. The creek is fed by several smaller tributaries including Left Hand Creek and Boulder Creek. The creek also passes through several dams, including Button Rock Dam and Ralph Price Reservoir. Seasonally, the creek experiences high flows in the spring due to snowmelt runoff, while low flows occur in the late summer and fall. The hydrology of the creek is also impacted by flash floods, which can occur during heavy thunderstorms. In September 2013, the creek experienced a record-breaking flood that caused extensive damage to the town of Lyons.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check St. Vrain Creek At Lyons's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 73 cfs |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 18 cfs |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 0 cfs |
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 60 cfs |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | — |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near St. Vrain Creek At Lyons. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Lyons 0.3 Nne | 0 in |
| Hygiene | 0 in |
| Lyons 4.8 N | 0 in |
| Lyons 6.4 Nw | 0 in |
| Berthoud 4.4 Wsw | 0 in |
| Estes Park 10.5 Se | 0 in |
River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track St. Vrain Creek At Lyons in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when St. Vrain Creek At Lyons crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About St. Vrain Creek At Lyons
Where does the streamflow data for St. Vrain Creek At Lyons come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 06724000. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when St. Vrain Creek At Lyons rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free St. Vrain Creek At Lyons report
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