Upper Santa Cruz HUC8 15050301
A 6,801 km² sub-basin of the Lower Colorado region in AZ, MX. Drought coverage is from the US Drought Monitor (map of 2026-09-01); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
66
Moderate
Drought index
50
Abnormally dry
Area in D2+
0%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
63%
of 8 reporting
Median flow
211%
p10 of record
Water assets
4,654
42 springs · 3,254 wells
USGS gauges (9)
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER NEAR LOCHIEL, AZ094800000 cfsp10 · below normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER AT CONTINENTAL, AZ094820000 cfsp10 · below normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER AT TUCSON, AZ094825000 cfsp10 · below normal
- RILLITO CREEK AT LA CHOLLA BLVD NEAR TUCSON, AZ.094860550 cfsp10 · below normal
- CANADA DEL ORO BLW INA ROAD, NEAR TUCSON, AZ.094863500 cfsp10 · below normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER NEAR NOGALES, AZ.0948050016 cfsp62 · normal
- NOGALES WASH AT NOGALES, AZ094810008 cfsp67 · normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER AT TUBAC, AZ.0948174040 cfsp67 · normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER AT SILVERLAKE RD, AT TUCSON, AZ094824400 cfsno long-term record
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-07 | 50 | 0 | 5/8 | p10 |
Top water assets
- 72Tucson Basin Deep Fossil Aquiferfossil_water
- 67Santa Cruz Riverriver
- 67Sopori Washriver
- 67Nogales Wash At Nogales, Azriver
- 67Santa Cruz River At Cortaro, Azriver
- 67Big Washriver
- 67Santa Cruz Riverriver
- 67Santa Cruz Riverriver
- 67Sonoita Creekriver
- 67Sonoita Creekriver