Animas River at Durango, CO
River level and flood forecast · La Plata County
Normal3.2 ftas of Mon 12:30 PM
The river is 4.8 ft below flood stage (8 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.8 ft by Mon, Oct 19, 6 AM.
Flow: 791 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:10 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 10.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 8 ft |
| Action stage | 7 ft |
| Record crest (May 25, 2005) | 7.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 16.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the East 32nd Street Bridge. Devastating flooding is occurring through Durango with many buildings near the highway 160 bridge and between the Animas River and Hwy 550 south of 15th street flooded.
- 13 ftFloodwaters are approaching the bases of several bridges in Durango including the West 9th Street Bridge the US 550 bridge and the Animas River Trail pedestrian bridges. Debris dams and backwater flooding is possible making these bridges unsafe.
- 12.5 ftLarge portions of the Animas River Trail and adjacent buildings and parking lots along the Animas River between the Hwy 160 bridge and the Hwy 550 bridge are flooded.
- 12 ftPortions of the Animas River Trail are flooded with adjacent businesses and residences threatened. Major flooding is occurring north of Durango in Trimble and Hermosa. Major Flooding is occurring at the Durango Trout Hatchery.
- 11 ftThe area surrounding the Durango Fish Hatchery is flooding. Water is nearing the base of the Rio Grande Western Railroad Bridge adjacent to 15th Street.
- 10 ftMajor flooding is occurring in the Val-Air Glider field and hangars.
- 9.69 ftThe Dalton Ranch Golf Club is beginning to flood. Some dikes topped north of Durango.
- 9 ftSignificant overbank flow is occurring in Durango.
- 8.5 ftFlooding of the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railroad between Tacoma and Needleton is occurring.
- 8 ftMinor flooding of agricultural lands and residential structures north of Durango is occurring. Water is nearing sections of the Rio Grande Western Railroad north of Durango.
- 7 ftAgricultural lands north of Durango are experiencing minor flooding. Portions of the Val-Air Gliderport field are flooded.
- 6 ftLowland flooding is likely in the vicinity of Timble and Hermosa.
- 5.5 ftWhite water rafting on the Animas River above Durango becomes hazardous.
Highest crests on record
- 7.4 ft — May 25, 2005
- 6.92 ft — October 7, 2006
- 6.87 ft — June 9, 2019
- 6.69 ft — June 11, 2015
- 6.6 ft — May 21, 2008
Recent crests: 3.86 ft (May 15, 2026) · 6.41 ft (October 14, 2025) · 4.79 ft (June 1, 2025) · 5.25 ft (June 7, 2024) · 5.85 ft (May 26, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DRGC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.