Santa Cruz River Flow Today
As of October 5, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Santa Cruz River is flowing at 51 cfs at Cortaro, AZ — 95% of normal for the date and down 5% in 24 hours. 9 of 9 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 51 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Santa Cruz River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Santa Cruz River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Cortaro, the Santa Cruz River is running 51 cfs — 95% of normal, down 5% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 8 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 76% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Cundiyo (-19%).
Highest against normal: Cundiyo at 297%. Lowest: Lochiel at 0%.
How the Santa Cruz River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Cundiyo6,489 ft 40 cfs297%
- Lochiel4,642 ft 0 cfs0%
- Nogales3,710 ft 1.1 cfs127%
- Tubac3,161 ft 4.9 cfs57%
- Continental2,813 ft 0 cfs
- Tucson2,339 ft 0 cfs0%
- Cortaro2,139 ft 51 cfs95%
- Trico Road1,901 ft 38 cfs161%
- Laveen1,032 ft 0 cfs0%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Santa Cruz River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (76%).
Santa Cruz River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Cruz River Near Cundiyo NM
Oct 5, 1:45 AM · USGS 08291000 |
40 cfs | 297% | -19% | 4.80 ft | · | 6,489 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River Near Lochiel AZ
Oct 5, 3:00 AM · USGS 09480000 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | 5.04 ft | · | 4,642 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River Near Nogales AZ
Oct 5, 3:00 AM · USGS 09480500 |
1.1 cfs | 127% | -91% | 1.51 ft | · | 3,710 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River At Tubac AZ
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 09481740 |
4.9 cfs | 57% | -50% | 20.92 ft | 7.1 ft below | 3,161 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River At Continental AZ
Oct 5, 3:00 AM · USGS 09482000 |
0 cfs | · | · | 1.13 ft | 12.9 ft below | 2,813 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River At Tucson AZ
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 09482500 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | -0.51 ft | 12.5 ft below | 2,339 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River At Cortaro AZ
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 09486500 |
51 cfs | 95% | -5% | 8.28 ft | 10.2 ft below | 2,139 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River At Trico Road AZ
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 09486520 |
38 cfs | 161% | +2% | 3.02 ft | 12.5 ft below | 1,901 ft |
|
Santa Cruz River Near Laveen AZ
Oct 5, 3:15 AM · USGS 09489000 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | 7.96 ft | · | 1,032 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Santa Cruz River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Santa Cruz River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Santa Cruz River
The Santa Cruz River is a 184-mile-long river that flows through the southern part of Arizona and northern part of Mexico. The river has a rich history, with evidence of human activity along its banks dating back over 4,000 years. The hydrology of the river has been significantly impacted by human activity, including diversion of water for agricultural use and the construction of dams and reservoirs. The two main reservoirs on the river are Lake Patagonia and the Rio Rico Reservoir. The river is also an important source of water for irrigation, supporting agriculture in the region. In recent years, efforts have been made to restore the river and its ecosystem, including the removal of invasive plant species and the reintroduction of native fish species. The river also provides recreational opportunities, including fishing and boating.
Fishing near the Santa Cruz River
About the Santa Cruz River
How is the Santa Cruz River flowing right now?
As of October 5, 2026, the Santa Cruz River is flowing at 51 cfs at Cortaro, AZ, about 95% of normal for the date. Across its 9 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 51 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Santa Cruz River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Santa Cruz River is at 76% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Santa Cruz River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Tubac (28.0 ft), Continental (14.0 ft), Tucson (12.0 ft), Cortaro (18.5 ft), Trico Road (15.5 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.