Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of Spring 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS. The NWS is now accepting feedback on NWPS. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information.

Experimental National Water Center Products: Flood Inundation Mapping services are now available for 10% of the U.S. population. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information. The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via the URL above, as described in the StoryMap here.

DID YOU KNOW... Please try our new TEST hydrograph page link at: https://preview.water.noaa.gov/gauges/abcde - Just replace “abcde” with your local hydrograph five character ID found in the lower left corner of the hydrograph.  In late March of 2024, the base URL path will become water.noaa.gov.  Feedback can be provided HERE

Weather Forecast Office Grand Junction, CO

Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

Download

Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

Auto Refresh: OFF

Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (MST) Datum: NGVD29 Metadata

NOTE: Stage may be affected by ice during winter months. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Dolores River near Rico. Only observed stages are available for this point.

Default Hydrograph Scale to Flood Categories   Return to Area Map

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 9.5 Moderate Flood Stage: 7.3 Flood Stage: 5.8 Action Stage: 5.5 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 6.15 ft on 06/10/1952 (2) 6.07 ft on 06/05/1957 (3) 5.95 ft on 05/24/1984 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 4.07 ft on 05/11/2022 (2) 3.46 ft on 06/04/2021 (3) 3.75 ft on 05/18/2020 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records Currently none available. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:16 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
11	Major flood destruction of homes and property along the Dolores River. River erosion may cause land slides and river debris may damage bridges.
9.5	Major flooding is occurring. Sections of CO 145 are likely washed out.
8.5	Moderate flooding is occurring damaging buildings and property. Portions of CO 145 are impassable due to water.
7.3	Moderate flooding is occurring along the Dolores River between the towns of Rico and Dolores. Water is running over portions of CO 145.
7	The Dolores River nears sections of CO 145. Water is nearing homes and property. River banks are eroding and very unstable.
5.8	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.
5.5	Some minor flooding of low-lying agricultural land along the Dolores River between Rico and Dolores is likely.
5.4	River reaches bankfull in sections. Water begins to pool in low lying fields and agricultural land near and along the Dolores River.

About This Location

Latitude: 37.638884° N, Longitude: 108.060352° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 5.8 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 8422.23 ft 8428.23 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other 8422.23 ft 8428.23 ft   Current/Historical Observations: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Rico

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary Inundation Mapping Locations

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management Snow Information

Collaborative Agencies The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here. NWS Information National Weather Service Grand Junction Weather Forecast Office 2844 Aviators Way Grand Junction, CO 81506 (970) 243-7007 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:28 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities