Gunnison River at Delta, CO
River level and flood forecast · Delta County
Normal1.3 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM
The river is 7.7 ft below flood stage (9 ft).
Forecast to hold near 1.3 ft through Mon, Oct 19, 6 AM.
Flow: 426 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 | 10.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 9 ft |
| Action stage | 8.5 ft |
| Record crest (May 25, 2017) | 9.89 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 17.2 ftUS50 bridge flooded and impassable. Devastating flooding in Delta and communities upstream and downstream.
- 14 ftModerate flooding in trailer parks and businesses near bridge and agricultural lands upstream and downstream of Delta.
- 13.1 ftRecord Crest (1984). Flood waters near business center south of the River.
- 12 ftFlood waters reach the Recreation Center and a large portion of Confluence Park is submerged.
- 10.5 ftUS Highway 50 bridge closed for safety. Water exceeds safety thresholds under the bridge.
- 10 ftWater inundates homes and RV Park north of the River. Cabins and boat ramp at the end of Kellogg Street flooded. Waster water treatment plant exceeds capacity, resulting in loss of treatment utility.
- 9 ftAgriculture flooding in low-lying areas near the river above Delta. Water inundates boat ramp and parking lot at Confluence Park.
- 8.5 ftMinor low-land flooding is likely along the banks of the Gunnison River in the vicinity of Delta. City of Delta's waste water treatment plant requires additional pumping to sustain operations.
Highest crests on record
- 9.89 ft — May 25, 2017
- 9.41 ft — June 9, 2019
- 9.27 ft — June 8, 2011
- 9.22 ft — May 17, 2023
- 9.11 ft — May 22, 2008
Recent crests: 2.54 ft (March 27, 2026) · 5.55 ft (June 1, 2025) · 7.23 ft (May 22, 2024) · 9.22 ft (May 17, 2023) · 5.83 ft (May 19, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamGunnison River near Grand Junction, CO
- Uncompahgre River at Delta, CO, CO
- Surface Creek at Cedaredge, CO
- Surface Creek near Cedaredge, CO
- Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel, CO
- Colorado River below Grand Valley Diversion near Palisade, CO
- Plateau Creek near Cameo, CO
- Colorado River above Gunnison River, CO
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DELC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.