Elk River near Milner, CO
River level and flood forecast · Routt County
Normal1.6 ftas of Mon 1:30 PM
The river is 5.9 ft below flood stage (7.5 ft).
Forecast to rise to 1.8 ft Thu 12 AM, below the 7.5 ft flood stage.
Flow: 90 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:54 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 9.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 8.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 7.5 ft |
| Action stage | 7 ft |
| Record crest (June 21, 2019) | 8.08 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 12 ftMajor flooding is occurring. Water is flowing over the County Road 42 bridge and County Road 42 is impassable. Water has reached the base of the US40 bridge.
- 9 ftMajor flooding is occurring. Water is nearing the base of the 42 Road bridge. Backwater flooding is possible where the East and West Forks of the Elk River pass under US40. Severe bank erosion and scouring is significantly altering the river channel.
- 8.3 ftModerate flooding is occurring. Water is nearing the base of the private ranch bridge near County Road 42. Water has reached the foundations of several homes along the Elk River above and below US40.
- 8 ftWater is nearing ranch buildings between County Road 44 and the Elk River.
- 7.9 ftBackwater flooding is possible due to debris blocking the East Fork Elk River Culverts under US 40.
- 7.7 ftWater is approaching homes on the southside of US40 near the confluence of the East Fork Elk River and the Yampa River.
- 7.5 ftLower portions of 42 road near the Elk River bridge are starting to flood.
- 7 ftLow land flooding is occurring along the reach of the Elk River. Water has reached the foundations of some ranch buildings and homes near the County Road 42 Bridge.
- 6 ftThe Elk River has reached bankfull. Some minor low-land flooding is likely.
Highest crests on record
- 8.08 ft — June 21, 2019
- 7.95 ft — June 8, 2010
- 7.78 ft — May 16, 2023
- 7.77 ft — May 22, 2008
- 7.65 ft — May 30, 2014
Recent crests: 4.54 ft (May 15, 2026) · 5.49 ft (May 13, 2025) · 7.14 ft (June 6, 2024) · 7.78 ft (May 16, 2023) · 7.15 ft (May 19, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (ENMC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.