DOLORES RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 12, 2025

Cold Weather Advisory
2025-02-13T08:00:00-07:00

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills of -15F to -25F expected, except -5F to -15F in the immediate Denver metro area. * WHERE...The Front Range Foothills, I-25 Urban Corridor, and plains of northeast and east central Colorado. * WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 8 AM MST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Dolores River was last observed at 371 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 736 acre-ft of water today; about 137% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 272 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-05-19 when daily discharge volume was observed at 33,680 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Dolores River Near Gateway reporting a streamflow rate of 166 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Dolores River Near Cisco with a gauge stage of 7.15 ft. This river is monitored from 7 different streamgauging stations along the Dolores River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 8,421 ft, the Dolores River Below Rico.

The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, located in southwestern Colorado, United States. The river is approximately 250 miles long and has a drainage area of about 4,000 square miles. The river was historically used by the Ancestral Puebloans and later by Spanish explorers. The Dolores River has several reservoirs and dams, including the McPhee Dam and Reservoir which provides water for agricultural use in the area. The river also has significant recreational use, including rafting and fishing. The Dolores River is known for its scenic beauty and is an important habitat for wildlife, including several species of fish and birds. The river has faced environmental threats from oil and gas development, along with drought and climate change.

Last Updated 2025-02-12
Discharge Volume 736 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 371.2 cfs
-23.5 cfs (-5.95%)
Percent of Normal 136.67%
Maximum 33,680.0 cfs
2023-05-19
Seasonal Avg 272 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Dolores River Below Rico
USGS 09165000
44 cfs 1.67 ft 37.62
Dolores River At Dolores
USGS 09166500
90 cfs 2.89 ft 19.33
Dolores River Near Slick Rock
USGS 09168730
129 cfs 4.73 ft 27.72
Dolores River At Bedrock
USGS 09169500
30 cfs 1.01 ft -16.67
Dolores River Near Bedrock
USGS 09171100
46 cfs 2.66 ft -9.79
Dolores River Near Gateway
USGS 09179450
166 cfs 6.9 ft -4.57
Dolores River Near Cisco
USGS 09180000
129 cfs 7.15 ft 0
History of the River

The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 241 miles (388 km) long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the Spanish El Rio de Nuestra Señora de Dolores, River of Our Lady of Sorrows. The river was explored and possibly named by Juan Maria Antonio Rivera during a 1765 expedition from Santa Fe.
The mean annual flow of the Dolores prior to damming was approximately 1,200 cu ft/s (34 m3/s), but due to diversions it has been reduced to about 600 cu ft/s (17 m3/s).

       

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