Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenDolores River below Rico water level
River gauge, Dolores River, Colorado, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 129 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.19 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 AM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 08:22 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Dolores River below Rico, where the gauge shows 2.23 ft.
It is 3.57 ft below the flood stage of 5.80 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.19 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 AM. The 30-day range is 2.21 ft – 2.40 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 5.73 ftMay 23, 2005
- Forecast peak
- 3.19 ftFriday, October 23 at 12:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 5.80 ft.
What happens at each level
- 11.00 ft
- Major flood destruction of homes and property along the Dolores River. River erosion may cause land slides and river debris may damage bridges.
- 9.50 ft
- Major flooding is occurring. Sections of CO 145 are likely washed out.
- 8.50 ft
- Moderate flooding is occurring damaging buildings and property. Portions of CO 145 are impassable due to water.
- 7.30 ft
- Moderate flooding is occurring along the Dolores River between the towns of Rico and Dolores. Water is running over portions of CO 145.
- 7.00 ft
- The Dolores River nears sections of CO 145. Water is nearing homes and property. River banks are eroding and very unstable.
- 5.80 ft
- Minor flooding is occurring along the Dolores River between the towns of Rico and Dolores. River banks are eroding and becoming unstable. Agricultural land near and along the Dolores River is flooding.
- 5.50 ft
- Some minor flooding of low-lying agricultural land along the Dolores River between Rico and Dolores is likely.
- 5.40 ft
- River reaches bankfull in sections. Water begins to pool in low lying fields and agricultural land near and along the Dolores River.
- 2.23 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.73 ft | May 23, 2005 |
| 2 | 5.57 ft | October 7, 2006 |
| 3 | 5.51 ft | June 13, 2019 |
| 4 | 5.39 ft | May 21, 2008 |
| 5 | 5.26 ft | May 13, 2009 |
| 6 | 5.20 ft | June 10, 2015 |
| 7 | 5.19 ft | June 6, 2011 |
| 8 | 5.14 ft | May 28, 2010 |
| 9 | 5.08 ft | June 5, 2016 |
| 10 | 4.85 ft | June 9, 2017 |
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 at DoloresRiver gauge, Dolores River | 3.33 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 27 mi |
| Dolores River at BedrockRiver gauge, Dolores River | 30.0 cfs | Normal | −17.0 cfs | 65 mi |
| Dolores River near BedrockRiver gauge, Dolores River | 2.54 ft | Below flood stage | −0.23 ft | 65 mi |
| Dolores River near GatewayRiver gauge, Dolores River | 183 cfs | Normal | −57.0 cfs | 86 mi |
| Dolores River near CiscoRiver gauge, Dolores River | 7.66 ft | Below flood stage | −0.19 ft | 101 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Creek above Cascade Creek Diversion near RockwoodRiver gauge, Cascade Creek | 83.0 cfs | Very high | −3.6 cfs | 13 mi |
| Cascade Creek below Cascade Creek Diversion near RockwoodRiver gauge, Cascade Creek | 84.8 cfs | Very high | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Animas River at Tall Timber Resort above TacomaRiver gauge, Animas River | 920 cfs | Very high | −80.0 cfs | 16 mi |
| Lake Fork San Miguel River above Trout Lake near OphirRiver gauge, Lake Fork San Miguel River | 18.8 cfs | High | −1.6 cfs | 16 mi |
| South Fork San Miguel River near OphirRiver gauge, South Fork San Miguel River | 64.9 cfs | High | −1.7 cfs | 19 mi |
| Hermosa Creek near HermosaRiver gauge, Hermosa Creek | 171 cfs | Very high | −32.0 cfs | 19 mi |
| Jackson Gulch ReservoirReservoir | 7,802.17 ft | High | 20 mi | |
| Animas River below SilvertonRiver gauge, Animas River | 345 cfs | Very high | −14.0 cfs | 24 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Dolores River below Rico?
The official flood stage is 5.80 ft. The level is currently 3.57 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 below Rico today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 08:45 AM MDT, the water level was 2.23 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Dolores River below Rico rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Dolores River below Rico normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Dolores River below Rico?
The highest level on record is 5.73 ft on May 23, 2005.
Is Dolores River below Rico expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.19 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09165000(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.63888, -108.06037(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 | 2.23 ft | 2026-10-18 14:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 129 cfs | 2026-10-18 14:45 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Dolores River below Rico (usgs:09165000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/dolores-river-below-rico
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