Dolores River near Rico, CO
River level and flood forecast · Montezuma County
Normal1.9 ftas of Mon 1:45 PM
The river is 3.9 ft below flood stage (5.8 ft).
Forecast to hold near 1.9 ft through Mon, Oct 19, 6 AM.
Flow: 68 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:26 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 9.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 7.3 ft |
| Flood stage | 5.8 ft |
| Action stage | 5.5 ft |
| Record crest (May 23, 2005) | 5.73 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 11 ftMajor flood destruction of homes and property along the Dolores River. River erosion may cause land slides and river debris may damage bridges.
- 9.5 ftMajor flooding is occurring. Sections of CO 145 are likely washed out.
- 8.5 ftModerate flooding is occurring damaging buildings and property. Portions of CO 145 are impassable due to water.
- 7.3 ftModerate flooding is occurring along the Dolores River between the towns of Rico and Dolores. Water is running over portions of CO 145.
- 7 ftThe Dolores River nears sections of CO 145. Water is nearing homes and property. River banks are eroding and very unstable.
- 5.8 ftMinor 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 ftSome minor flooding of low-lying agricultural land along the Dolores River between Rico and Dolores is likely.
- 5.4 ftRiver reaches bankfull in sections. Water begins to pool in low lying fields and agricultural land near and along the Dolores River.
Highest crests on record
- 5.73 ft — May 23, 2005
- 5.57 ft — October 7, 2006
- 5.51 ft — June 13, 2019
- 5.39 ft — May 21, 2008
- 5.26 ft — May 13, 2009
Recent crests: 3.18 ft (March 26, 2026) · 4 ft (October 14, 2025) · 3.87 ft (June 3, 2025) · 3.97 ft (June 4, 2024) · 4.76 ft (May 25, 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 (DRRC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.