Lower Gunnison HUC8 14020005
A 4,306 km² sub-basin of the Upper Colorado region in CO. Drought coverage is from the US Drought Monitor (map of 2026-10-13); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
56
Moderate
Drought index
259
Severe
Area in D2+
61.17%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
20%
of 5 reporting
Median flow
89%
p45 of record
Water assets
652
148 springs · 182 wells
USGS gauges (5)
- GUNNISON RIVER AT DELTA, CO09144250458 cfsp8 · much below normal
- GUNNISON RIVER NEAR GRAND JUNCTION, CO.091525001,240 cfsp40 · normal
- ESCALANTE CREEK NEAR DELTA, CO.091515007 cfsp45 · normal
- SURFACE CREEK NEAR CEDAREDGE, CO0914300019 cfsp70 · normal
- SURFACE CREEK AT CEDAREDGE, CO.0914350017 cfsp80 · above normal
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 | 259 | 61.17 | 1/5 | p45 |
| 2026-10-18 | 259 | 61.17 | 1/5 | p50 |
| 2026-10-17 | 259 | 61.17 | 1/5 | p51 |
| 2026-10-16 | 259 | 61.17 | 1/5 | p69 |
| 2026-10-15 | 312 | 69.25 | 0/5 | p79 |
| 2026-10-14 | 312 | 69.25 | 1/5 | p79 |
| 2026-10-13 | 312 | 69.25 | 1/5 | p51 |
| 2026-10-12 | 312 | 69.25 | 1/5 | p60 |
| 2026-10-11 | 312 | 69.25 | 1/5 | p30 |
| 2026-10-10 | 312 | 69.25 | 2/5 | p30 |
| 2026-10-09 | 312 | 69.25 | 2/5 | p29 |
| 2026-10-08 | 312 | 69.25 | 2/5 | p26 |
| 2026-10-07 | 312 | 69.25 | 2/5 | p30 |
| 2026-10-06 | 312 | 69.25 | 3/5 | p21 |
Top water assets
- 70Kennicott Sloughreservoir
- 69Surface Creek Near Cedaredge, Coriver
- 69Surface Creek At Cedaredge, Co.river
- 67Gunnison River At Delta, Coriver
- 67Escalante Creek Near Delta, Co.river
- 67Gunnison River Near Grand Junction, Co.river
- 66Mckoonreservoir
- 66Porter #1reservoir
- 66Hallenbeck #2reservoir
- 66Somerville-Mccullahreservoir