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 2026-10-13); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
64
Moderate
Drought index
15
Abnormally dry
Area in D2+
0%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
75%
of 8 reporting
Median flow
164%
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 AT TUBAC, AZ.094817402 cfsp24 · below normal
- NOGALES WASH AT NOGALES, AZ094810008 cfsp82 · above normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER NEAR NOGALES, AZ.0948050037 cfsp97 · much above normal
- SANTA CRUZ RIVER AT SILVERLAKE RD, AT TUCSON, AZ094824400 cfsno long-term record
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-20 | 15 | 0 | 5/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-19 | 15 | 0 | 5/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-18 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-17 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-16 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-15 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-14 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-13 | 15 | 0 | 5/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-12 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-11 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-10 | 15 | 0 | 7/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-09 | 15 | 0 | 7/8 | p10 |
| 2026-10-08 | 15 | 0 | 6/8 | 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