Dallas Creek near Ridgway, CO
River level and flood forecast · Ouray County
Normal2.8 ftas of Mon 1 PM
The river is 3.0 ft below flood stage (5.8 ft).
Forecast to hold near 2.8 ft through Mon, Oct 19, 6 AM.
Flow: 33 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 11:22 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 10 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 8 ft |
| Flood stage | 5.8 ft |
| Action stage | 5 ft |
| Record crest (August 1, 2019) | 5.74 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 16 ftWater is flowing over the surface of the 24 Road bridge. Major flooding is occurring along 24 Road, 5 Road and surrounding land. Flood waters will likely wash out and destroy the 24 Road bridge.
- 13 ftThe surface of Dallas Creek is nearing the bottom of the 24 Road bridge. Major flooding is occurring over the ranch southwest of the bridge with flood waters also covering portions of 5 road southeast of the bridge. Flooding is also occurring in the horse pasture to the northeast of the bridge.
- 12 ftPasture land northeast of the 24 Road bridge is beginning to flood. The water level is nearing the top of the right bank southeast of the bridge. Flooding is occuring on the ranch southwest of the 24 Road bridge.
- 10 ftThe Dallas Creek is flowing over the lower half of the ranch along the left bank of the Dallas Creek southwest of the 24 Road bridge and is nearing the ranch house.
- 8.5 ftThe Dallas Creek has reached the barn on the ranch southwest of the 24 Road bridge.
- 7.5 ftFlooding is occuring along the riverside portions of the ranch southwest of the 24 Road bridge.
- 6.5 ftWater rises to the river gage location. Flooding is occuring over areas along the bank of the Dallas Creek southwest of the 24 Road bridge.
- 6 ftDallas Creek has reached over the top of the riverbank near the ranch southwest of the 24 Road bridge.
Highest crests on record
- 5.74 ft — August 1, 2019
- 5.57 ft — August 4, 2007
- 5.4 ft — August 28, 2016
- 4.83 ft — July 21, 2017
- 4.54 ft — June 28, 2024
Recent crests: 2.49 ft (March 20, 2026) · 3.39 ft (October 11, 2025) · 3.24 ft (June 6, 2025) · 4.54 ft (June 28, 2024) · 4.24 ft (April 30, 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 (DCKC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.