Agua Fria River River Levels

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

The Agua Fria River is a tributary of the Gila River in Arizona that stretches for approximately 120 miles.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Agua Fria River was last observed at 20 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 40 acre-ft of water today; about 79% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 25 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-03-22 when daily discharge volume was observed at 9,485 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Agua Fria River Near Mayer reporting a streamflow rate of 15.2 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Agua Fria River Near Humboldt with a gauge stage of 3.38 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Agua Fria River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,381 ft, the Agua Fria River Near Humboldt.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-04
Discharge Volume 40 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 20.21 cfs
-63.62 cfs (-75.89%)
Percent of Normal 79.4%
Maximum 9,485.0 cfs
2023-03-22
Seasonal Avg 25 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Agua Fria River Near Humboldt
USGS 09512450
5 cfs 3.38 ft 3.73
Agua Fria River Near Mayer
USGS 09512500
15 cfs 2.66 ft -80.76
Agua Fria River Near Rock Springs
USGS 09512800
2 cfs 2.79 ft -11.79
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Agua Fria River is a 120-mile (190 km) long intermittent stream which flows generally south from 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Prescott in the U.S. state of Arizona. Prescott draws much of its municipal water supply from the upper Agua Fria drainage. The Agua Fria runs through the Agua Fria National Monument. The river then flows through a small canyon called "Black Canyon" into Lake Pleasant, a popular recreation area near Peoria, Arizona.
(There is a large "Black Canyon" on the Colorado River along the Arizona–Nevada border.)

During rainy weather and at times when water is flowing in the intermittent Agua Fria River, it discharges into the Gila River, which also only flows during wet periods of the year.
The Central Arizona Water Conservation District of the Central Arizona Project operates the Agua Fria Recharge Project, which is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the New Waddell Dam. It serves to recharge underground aquifers in this area, and ends at Lake Pleasant, Phoenix.