Dolores River at Dolores water level
River gauge, Dolores River, Colorado, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 300 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 4.16 ft by Friday, October 23 at 09:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 09:15 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Dolores River at Dolores, where the gauge shows 3.25 ft.
It is 4.75 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 4.16 ft by Friday, October 23 at 09:00 AM. The 30-day range is 3.25 ft – 3.62 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 7.84 ftMay 25, 1984
- Forecast peak
- 4.16 ftFriday, October 23 at 09:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 8.00 ft.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.84 ft | May 25, 1984 |
| 2 | 7.75 ft | May 5, 1982 |
| 3 | 7.26 ft | May 17, 2023 |
| 4 | 7.05 ft | June 9, 2019 |
| 5 | 7.04 ft | May 24, 2005 |
| 6 | 6.93 ft | May 4, 1986 |
| 7 | 6.88 ft | May 3, 1981 |
| 8 | 6.67 ft | June 17, 1995 |
| 9 | 6.58 ft | June 9, 1985 |
| 10 | 6.54 ft | May 21, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Dolores River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolores River below RicoRiver gauge, Dolores River | 2.20 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 27 mi |
| Dolores River at BedrockRiver gauge, Dolores River | 24.8 cfs | Low | −9.4 cfs | 62 mi |
| Dolores River near BedrockRiver gauge, Dolores River | 2.45 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 64 mi |
| Dolores River near GatewayRiver gauge, Dolores River | 161 cfs | Normal | −28.0 cfs | 86 mi |
| Dolores River near CiscoRiver gauge, Dolores River | 7.59 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 99 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Canyon Creek near DoloresRiver gauge, Lost Canyon Creek | 2.14 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.4 mi |
| Mcphee ReservoirReservoir | 6,864.51 ft | Low | 5.2 mi | |
| Jackson Gulch ReservoirReservoir | 7,802.56 ft | High | 13 mi | |
| Mud Creek at State Highway 32, near CortezRiver gauge, Mud Creek | 1.5 cfs | Low | +0.1 cfs | 14 mi |
| McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near CortezRiver gauge, McElmo Creek | 10.1 cfs | Very low | −0.9 cfs | 15 mi |
| McElmo Creek near Colorado-Utah State LineRiver gauge, McElmo Creek | 13.4 cfs | Low | −2.7 cfs | 30 mi |
| Mancos River near TowaocRiver gauge, Mancos River | 8.9 cfs | Normal | −0.8 cfs | 34 mi |
| Hermosa Creek near HermosaRiver gauge, Hermosa Creek | 160 cfs | Very high | −21.0 cfs | 36 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Dolores River at Dolores?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 4.75 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Dolores River at Dolores today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 12:45 AM MDT, the water level was 3.25 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Dolores River at Dolores rising or falling?
Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Dolores River at Dolores normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Dolores River at Dolores?
The highest level on record is 7.84 ft on May 25, 1984.
Is Dolores River at Dolores expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 4.16 ft by Friday, October 23 at 09:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09166500(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.47250, -108.49760(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 3.25 ft | 2026-10-19 06:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 300 cfs | 2026-10-19 06:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Dolores River at Dolores (usgs:09166500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/dolores-river-at-dolores
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer