Nibi Metrics
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics turns raw gauge readings from official hydrometric networks into something a person standing on a dock can actually use: is the water high or low for today, which way is it moving, and how unusual is this? This page explains where every number on the platform comes from and what we do to it along the way.
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Colorado River at Lees Ferry Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Colorado River at Lees Ferry in AZ, United States, built from official government gauge data.
- Location AZ, United States
- Watershed lower lake powell
- Primary gauge 09380000 (USGS)
About Colorado River at Lees Ferry
Colorado River at Lees Ferry - A pivotal point in Arizona's hydrography.
The Colorado River at Lees Ferry is a significant waterway in the arid landscape of Arizona, serving as a critical juncture in the flow of the river as it travels downstream. This location is pivotal to understanding the extensive hydrology of the arid Southwest, with its dynamic fluctuations influenced by seasonal weather patterns.
The watershed context
Located within the Lower Lake Powell watershed, the Colorado River at Lees Ferry drains an expansive catchment area of approximately 111,800 square miles. This large drainage area allows for a mix of inflow events, from summer monsoons that can bring violent flash floods to winter storms contributing to the snowmelt runoff. The Colorado River here is a remarkable feature due to its varying character, marked by periods of rapid flow during storm events alongside stretches of riverbed that can run dry between these infrequent occurrences.
The hydrology of this region is shaped by the interplay of intense weather conditions that characterize the arid climate. During summer months, heavy monsoon rains sweep across the landscape, triggering flash floods that can alter the river's flow conditions dramatically and serve as a reminder of the region's hydrological volatility.
Why the data matters here
Today’s hydrological reading of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry is crucial for understanding its current state in relation to historical patterns. This gauge measures the river's characteristics and provides essential information for monitoring water levels and discharge rates. The data reflects not just the present conditions but also allows for comparisons against the median levels for this date based on over 50 years of historical data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This comparison is vital; it enables water managers and stakeholders to assess how current flows relate to seasonal expectations, informing water use, conservation efforts, and flood preparedness in this dynamic environment.
How this page is built
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.
How Nibi Metrics works · Water stories
