Total streamflow across the
Dolores River
was last observed at
132
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
262
acre-ft of water today; about 47%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
279 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 Cisco
reporting a streamflow rate of 112 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Dolores River, with a gauge stage of
7.07 ft at this location.
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 | 2024-12-10 |
Discharge Volume | 262 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
132.0 cfs
-9.0 cfs (-6.38%) |
Percent of Normal | 47.28% |
Maximum |
33,680.0 cfs
2023-05-19 |
Seasonal Avg | 279 cfs |
Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolores River Below Rico
USGS 09165000 |
23 cfs | 1.89 ft | -8.3 | |||||
Dolores River At Dolores
USGS 09166500 |
65 cfs | 2.51 ft | -27.76 | |||||
Dolores River Near Slick Rock
USGS 09168730 |
30 cfs | 3.75 ft | 0 | |||||
Dolores River At Bedrock
USGS 09169500 |
49 cfs | 0.97 ft | 74.29 | |||||
Dolores River Near Bedrock
USGS 09171100 |
35 cfs | 2.4 ft | -12.06 | |||||
Dolores River Near Gateway
USGS 09179450 |
101 cfs | 6.55 ft | 7.79 | |||||
Dolores River Near Cisco
USGS 09180000 |
112 cfs | 7.07 ft | 1.82 |
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).