List of drainage basins in Colorado

This is a list of drainage basins in the U.S. State of Colorado.

Colorado encompasses the headwaters of several important rivers. The state is divided into two major hydrographic regions by the Continental Divide of the Americas. East of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow to the Gulf of Mexico, either via the Rio Grande or via one of several rivers (the South Platte River, the North Platte River, the Republican River, the Arkansas River, the Cimarron River, or the Canadian River) which eventually feed the Mississippi River along the way. West of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow via the Green River, the upper Colorado River^[a] (formerly the Grand River), or the San Juan River into the Colorado River and on to the Gulf of California.

Colorado also has three significant endorheic basins: the San Luis Closed Basin in the San Luis Valley, and the Bear Creek Basin and the White Woman Basin spanning the Colorado-Kansas border north and south of the Arkansas River.

List of major drainage basins

Major Drainage Basins of the State of Colorado
Basin	Outlet	Total Area^[3]	In-State Area^[3]	% In-State^[3]
Colorado River^[a]^[b]	Gulf of California	001703,132 km² 271,481 mi²	001100,195 km² 38,686 mi²	A06414.2%
Arkansas River^[c]	Mississippi River	002478,501 km² 184,750 mi²	00270,022 km² 27,036 mi²	A06314.6%
Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte)^[d]	Gulf of Mexico	003457,275 km² 176,555 mi²	00912,070 km² 4,660 mi²	A0722.6%
Canadian River	Arkansas River	004122,701 km² 47,375 mi²	073154 km² 59 mi²	A0730.1%
Green River^[e]	Colorado River	005115,903 km² 44,750 mi²	00527,340 km² 10,556 mi²	A05923.6%
North Platte River^[f]	Platte River	00680,755 km² 31,180 mi²	0185,129 km² 1,980 mi²	A0686.4%
upper Colorado River (Grand River)^[a]	Colorado River	00767,993 km² 26,252 mi²	00357,680 km² 22,270 mi²	A03884.8%
San Juan River^[b]	Colorado River	00864,560 km² 24,927 mi²	00815,175 km² 5,859 mi²	A06023.5%
South Platte River^[g]	Platte River	00962,738 km² 24,223 mi²	00448,948 km² 18,899 mi²	A04078.0%
Smoky Hill River	Kansas River	01051,783 km² 19,994 mi²	0402,493 km² 963 mi²	A0704.8%
Cimarron River^[h]	Arkansas River	01144,890 km² 17,332 mi²	0165,481 km² 2,116 mi²	A06612.2%
Yampa River	Green River	01221,506 km² 8,304 mi²	00715,289 km² 5,903 mi²	A04371.1%
Gunnison River^[b]^[i]	upper Colorado River (Grand River)	01320,851 km² 8,051 mi²	00620,851 km² 8,051 mi²	A001100%
North Fork Republican River	Republican River	01413,172 km² 5,086 mi²	01011,522 km² 4,449 mi²	A03787.5%
White River	Green River	01512,989 km² 5,015 mi²	0129,796 km² 3,782 mi²	A04275.4%
Dolores River	upper Colorado River (Grand River)	01611,998 km² 4,633 mi²	01110,619 km² 4,100 mi²	A03688.5%
Laramie River^[f]	North Platte River	01711,961 km² 4,618 mi²	061989 km² 382 mi²	A0678.3%
Little Snake River	Yampa River	01810,629 km² 4,104 mi²	0224,412 km² 1,704 mi²	A05241.5%
Purgatoire River^[j]	Arkansas River	0198,923 km² 3,445 mi²	0138,601 km² 3,321 mi²	A03196.4%
Lodgepole Creek	South Platte River	0208,374 km² 3,233 mi²	069496 km² 191 mi²	A0695.9%
Rio Chama	Rio Grande	0218,204 km² 3,168 mi²	071238 km² 92 mi²	A0712.9%
San Luis Closed Basin^[k]^[l]	endorheic basin	0227,638 km² 2,949 mi²	0147,638 km² 2,949 mi²	A002100%
Frenchman Creek	Republican River	0237,398 km² 2,856 mi²	0362,539 km² 980 mi²	A05334.3%
South Fork Republican River	Republican River	0247,195 km² 2,778 mi²	0175,454 km² 2,106 mi²	A04175.8%
San Luis Creek	San Luis Closed Basin	0257,000 km² 2,703 mi²	0157,000 km² 2,703 mi²	A003100%
Cache la Poudre River^[m]	South Platte River	0264,959 km² 1,915 mi²	0214,587 km² 1,771 mi²	A03492.5%
Bear Creek Basin	endorheic basin	0274,896 km² 1,890 mi²	0372,521 km² 973 mi²	A04851.5%
Huerfano River^[n]	Arkansas River	0284,840 km² 1,869 mi²	0194,840 km² 1,869 mi²	A004100%
Big Sandy Creek	Arkansas River	0294,825 km² 1,863 mi²	0204,825 km² 1,863 mi²	A005100%
Bear Creek	Bear Creek Basin	0304,500 km² 1,737 mi²	0392,500 km² 965 mi²	A04755.6%
North Fork Cimarron River	Cimarron River	0314,462 km² 1,723 mi²	0432,225 km² 859 mi²	A04949.9%
Arikaree River^[o]	North Fork Republican River	0324,429 km² 1,710 mi²	0234,265 km² 1,647 mi²	A03296.3%
San Miguel River	Dolores River	0334,060 km² 1,567 mi²	0244,060 km² 1,567 mi²	A006100%
Stinking Water Creek	Frenchman Creek	0343,862 km² 1,491 mi²	063966 km² 373 mi²	A05825.0%
Roaring Fork River^[p]	upper Colorado River (Grand River)	0353,766 km² 1,454 mi²	0253,766 km² 1,454 mi²	A007100%
Crow Creek	South Platte River	0363,717 km² 1,435 mi²	0442,201 km² 850 mi²	A04659.2%
Horse Creek	Arkansas River	0373,680 km² 1,421 mi²	0263,680 km² 1,421 mi²	A008100%
Ladder Creek	Smoky Hill River	0383,645 km² 1,407 mi²	067663 km² 256 mi²	A06218.2%
Bijou Creek	South Platte River	0393,612 km² 1,395 mi²	0273,612 km² 1,395 mi²	A009100%
White Woman Basin	endorheic basin	0403,577 km² 1,381 mi²	065908 km² 351 mi²	A05725.4%
Rush Creek	Arkansas River	0413,570 km² 1,378 mi²	0283,570 km² 1,378 mi²	A010100%
Animas River	San Juan River	0423,562 km² 1,375 mi²	0302,971 km² 1,147 mi²	A03983.4%
Saguache Creek	San Luis Creek	0433,482 km² 1,345 mi²	0293,482 km² 1,345 mi²	A011100%
Montezuma Creek	San Juan River	0443,044 km² 1,175 mi²	062983 km² 380 mi²	A05432.3%
White Woman Creek	White Woman Basin	0453,000 km² 1,158 mi²	066800 km² 309 mi²	A05626.7%
Beaver Creek	South Platte River	0462,939 km² 1,135 mi²	0312,939 km² 1,135 mi²	A012100%
Uncompahgre River	Gunnison River	0472,921 km² 1,128 mi²	0322,921 km² 1,128 mi²	A013100%
Tomichi Creek	Gunnison River	0482,874 km² 1,109 mi²	0332,874 km² 1,109 mi²	A014100%
Apishapa River^[n]	Arkansas River	0492,798 km² 1,080 mi²	0342,798 km² 1,080 mi²	A015100%
Saint Vrain Creek^[q]	South Platte River	0502,572 km² 993 mi²	0352,572 km² 993 mi²	A016100%
Eagle River	upper Colorado River (Grand River)	0512,515 km² 971 mi²	0382,515 km² 971 mi²	A017100%
Vermillion Creek	Green River	0522,500 km² 965 mi²	0591,155 km² 446 mi²	A05146.2%
North Fork Gunnison River	Gunnison River	0532,492 km² 962 mi²	0412,492 km² 962 mi²	A018100%
Fountain Creek^[r]	Arkansas River	0542,418 km² 933 mi²	0422,418 km² 933 mi²	A019100%
Big Thompson River^[m]	South Platte River	0552,149 km² 830 mi²	0452,149 km² 830 mi²	A020100%
Two Butte Creek	Arkansas River	0562,107 km² 814 mi²	0462,107 km² 814 mi²	A021100%
Mancos River	San Juan River	0572,099 km² 810 mi²	0471,973 km² 762 mi²	A03394.0%
Conejos River	Rio Grande	0582,078 km² 802 mi²	0561,471 km² 568 mi²	A04470.8%
North Fork Smoky Hill River	Smoky Hill River	0591,965 km² 759 mi²	064947 km² 366 mi²	A05048.2%
Sidney Draw	South Platte River	0601,949 km² 753 mi²	070368 km² 142 mi²	A06118.9%
South Fork Beaver Creek	Beaver Creek	0611,939 km² 749 mi²	068522 km² 201 mi²	A05526.9%
Sand Arroyo Creek	North Fork Cimarron River	0621,938 km² 748 mi²	0571,314 km² 507 mi²	A04567.8%
Chico Creek	Arkansas River	0631,934 km² 747 mi²	0481,934 km² 747 mi²	A022100%
Kiowa Creek	South Platte River	0641,888 km² 729 mi²	0491,888 km² 729 mi²	A023100%
Pawnee Creek	South Platte River	0651,875 km² 724 mi²	0501,875 km² 724 mi²	A024100%
McElmo Creek	San Juan River	0661,842 km² 711 mi²	0531,654 km² 639 mi²	A03589.8%
Blue River^[s]	upper Colorado River (Grand River)	0671,770 km² 683 mi²	0511,770 km² 683 mi²	A025100%
Piedra River	San Juan River	0681,770 km² 683 mi²	0521,770 km² 683 mi²	A026100%
Piceance Creek	White River	0691,630 km² 629 mi²	0541,630 km² 629 mi²	A027100%
Little Beaver Creek	Beaver Creek	0701,602 km² 619 mi²	072210 km² 81 mi²	A06513.1%
Clear Creek^[s]	South Platte River	0711,497 km² 578 mi²	0551,497 km² 578 mi²	A028100%
Taylor River^[p]	Gunnison River	0721,258 km² 486 mi²	0581,258 km² 486 mi²	A029100%
Boulder Creek^[4]	Saint Vrain Creek	0731,160 km² 448 mi²	0601,160 km² 448 mi²	A030100%
Cherry Creek	South Platte River	0731,050 km² 405 mi²	0601,050 km² 405 mi²	A030100%

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c The Colorado River did not officially flow through the State of Colorado until July 25, 1921. Prior to that date, the origin of the Colorado River was officially the confluence of the Grand and Green rivers at 38°11′21″N 109°53′09″W / 38.1892°N 109.8857°W / 38.1892; -109.8857 in what is now Canyonlands National Park of Utah. In 1921, U.S. Representative Edward T. Taylor of Colorado petitioned the Congressional Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to rename the Grand River as the Colorado River.^[1] On July 25, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River,^[2] over the objections of representatives from Wyoming, Utah, and the United States Geological Survey, who noted that the Green River was longer and had a larger drainage basin, although the Grand River often contributed a greater flow of water.
^ ^a ^b ^c The summit of Uncompahgre Peak at 14,321 feet (4365.0 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cimarron River, the Gunnison River, the former Grand River, the Colorado River, and the Gulf of California.
^ The summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4401.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Arkansas River and the Mississippi River.
^ The summit of Blanca Peak at 14,351 feet (4374 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte).
^ The headwaters of the Green River are located in the Wind River Mountains of the State of Wyoming.
^ ^a ^b The summit of Clark Peak at 12,960 feet (3950 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Laramie River and the North Platte River.
^ The summit of Mount Lincoln at 14,293 feet (4356.5 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the South Platte River, the Platte River, and the Missouri River.
^ The headwaters of the Cimarron River are located in Union County, New Mexico, a short distance south of the Colorado border.
^ The Gunnison River Basin is the most extensive river basin exclusively within the State of Colorado.
^ The summit of Culebra Peak at 14,053 feet (4283 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Purgatoire River.
^ The San Luis Closed Basin is the most extensive endorheic basin in the State of Colorado.
^ The summit of Crestone Peak at 14,300 feet (4359 m) is the highest point in the San Luis Closed Basin.
^ ^a ^b The summit of Hagues Peak at 13,573 feet (4137 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cache la Poudre River and the Big Thompson River.
^ ^a ^b The summit of West Spanish Peak at 13,631 feet (4155 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Huerfano River and Apishapa River.
^ The point at which the Arikaree River flows out of the Colorado and into Kansas is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3317 feet (1011 m).
^ ^a ^b The summit of Castle Peak at 14,279 feet (4352.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Roaring Fork River and the Taylor River.
^ The summit of Longs Peak at 14,259 feet (4346 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Saint Vrain Creek.
^ The summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet (4302.31 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Fountain Creek.
^ ^a ^b The summit of Grays Peak at 14,278 feet (4352 m) is the highest point on the Continental Divide in North America and the drainage basins of the Blue River and Clear Creek.

References

^ "Renaming the Grand River, Colo." (PDF), Hearing Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, Sixty Sixth Congress, Third Session, on HJ 460, Government Printing Office, February 18, 1921, retrieved May 16, 2023
^ "House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River" (PDF). Congressional Record. Sixty-seventh United States Congress. July 25, 1921. p. 4274. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gustafson, Daniel L. (2003-01-24). "Hydrologic Unit Project". Montana State University, Environmental Statistics Group. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
^ Murphy, Sheila F. (2006). State of the watershed: Water quality of Boulder Creek, Colorado (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1284. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. ISBN 1-4113-0954-5. Retrieved 2008-02-05.

External links

38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)

[Colorado-3] The Colorado River did not officially flow through the State of Colorado until July 25, 1921. Prior to that date, the origin of the Colorado River was officially the confluence of the Grand and Green rivers at 38°11′21″N 109°53′09″W / 38.1892°N 109.8857°W / 38.1892; -109.8857 in what is now Canyonlands National Park of Utah. In 1921, U.S. Representative Edward T. Taylor of Colorado petitioned the Congressional Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to rename the Grand River as the Colorado River.^[1] On July 25, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River,^[2] over the objections of representatives from Wyoming, Utah, and the United States Geological Survey, who noted that the Green River was longer and had a larger drainage basin, although the Grand River often contributed a greater flow of water.

[Uncompahgre-5] The summit of Uncompahgre Peak at 14,321 feet (4365.0 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cimarron River, the Gunnison River, the former Grand River, the Colorado River, and the Gulf of California.

[Elbert-6] The summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4401.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Arkansas River and the Mississippi River.

[Blanca-7] The summit of Blanca Peak at 14,351 feet (4374 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte).

[Green-8] The headwaters of the Green River are located in the Wind River Mountains of the State of Wyoming.

[Clark-9] The summit of Clark Peak at 12,960 feet (3950 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Laramie River and the North Platte River.

[Lincoln-10] The summit of Mount Lincoln at 14,293 feet (4356.5 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the South Platte River, the Platte River, and the Missouri River.

[Cimarron-11] The headwaters of the Cimarron River are located in Union County, New Mexico, a short distance south of the Colorado border.

[Gunnison-12] The Gunnison River Basin is the most extensive river basin exclusively within the State of Colorado.

[Culebra-13] The summit of Culebra Peak at 14,053 feet (4283 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Purgatoire River.

[San_Luis-14] The San Luis Closed Basin is the most extensive endorheic basin in the State of Colorado.

[Crestone-15] The summit of Crestone Peak at 14,300 feet (4359 m) is the highest point in the San Luis Closed Basin.

[Hagues-16] The summit of Hagues Peak at 13,573 feet (4137 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cache la Poudre River and the Big Thompson River.

[Spanish-17] The summit of West Spanish Peak at 13,631 feet (4155 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Huerfano River and Apishapa River.

[Arikaree-18] The point at which the Arikaree River flows out of the Colorado and into Kansas is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3317 feet (1011 m).

[Castle-19] The summit of Castle Peak at 14,279 feet (4352.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Roaring Fork River and the Taylor River.

[Longs-20] The summit of Longs Peak at 14,259 feet (4346 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Saint Vrain Creek.

[Pikes-21] The summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet (4302.31 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Fountain Creek.

[Grays-22] The summit of Grays Peak at 14,278 feet (4352 m) is the highest point on the Continental Divide in North America and the drainage basins of the Blue River and Clear Creek.

[congress-1] "Renaming the Grand River, Colo." (PDF), Hearing Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, Sixty Sixth Congress, Third Session, on HJ 460, Government Printing Office, February 18, 1921, retrieved May 16, 2023

[Grand_River_renamed-2] "House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River" (PDF). Congressional Record. Sixty-seventh United States Congress. July 25, 1921. p. 4274. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

[ESG-4] Gustafson, Daniel L. (2003-01-24). "Hydrologic Unit Project". Montana State University, Environmental Statistics Group. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-05.

[Boulder_Creek-23] Murphy, Sheila F. (2006). State of the watershed: Water quality of Boulder Creek, Colorado (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1284. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. ISBN 1-4113-0954-5. Retrieved 2008-02-05.

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List of major drainage basins

See also

Notes

References

External links