List of drainage basins of Colorado
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/GunnisonRiver_from_SunsetView.jpg/340px-GunnisonRiver_from_SunsetView.jpg)
This is a list of drainage basins in the U.S. State of Colorado.
The U.S. State of Colorado includes 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[1] (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 and the spanning the Colorado-Kansas border north and south of the Arkansas River.
List of major drainage basins[]
Basin | Outlet | Total Area[2] | In-State Area[2] | % In-State[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado River[1][3] | Gulf of California | 271,481 mi2 |
703,132 km238,686 mi2 |
100,195 km214.2% |
Arkansas River[4] | Mississippi River | 184,750 mi2 |
478,501 km227,036 mi2 |
70,022 km214.6% |
Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte)[5] | Gulf of Mexico | 176,555 mi2 |
457,275 km24,660 mi2 |
12,070 km22.6% |
Canadian River | Arkansas River | 47,375 mi2 |
122,701 km259 mi2 |
154 km20.1% |
Green River[6] | Colorado River | 44,750 mi2 |
115,903 km210,556 mi2 |
27,340 km223.6% |
North Platte River[7] | Platte River | 31,180 mi2 |
80,755 km21,980 mi2 |
5,129 km26.4% |
upper Colorado River (Grand River)[1] | Colorado River | 26,252 mi2 |
67,993 km222,270 mi2 |
57,680 km284.8% |
San Juan River[3] | Colorado River | 24,927 mi2 |
64,560 km25,859 mi2 |
15,175 km223.5% |
South Platte River[8] | Platte River | 24,223 mi2 |
62,738 km218,899 mi2 |
48,948 km278.0% |
Smoky Hill River | Kansas River | 19,994 mi2 |
51,783 km2963 mi2 |
2,493 km24.8% |
Cimarron River | Arkansas River | 17,332 mi2 |
44,890 km22,116 mi2 |
5,481 km212.2% |
Yampa River | Green River | 8,304 mi2 |
21,506 km25,903 mi2 |
15,289 km271.1% |
Gunnison River[3][9] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 8,051 mi2 |
20,851 km28,051 mi2 |
20,851 km2100% |
North Fork Republican River | Republican River | 5,086 mi2 |
13,172 km24,449 mi2 |
11,522 km287.5% |
White River | Green River | 5,015 mi2 |
12,989 km23,782 mi2 |
9,796 km275.4% |
Dolores River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 4,633 mi2 |
11,998 km24,100 mi2 |
10,619 km288.5% |
Laramie River[7] | North Platte River | 4,618 mi2 |
11,961 km2382 mi2 |
989 km28.3% |
Little Snake River | Yampa River | 4,104 mi2 |
10,629 km21,704 mi2 |
4,412 km241.5% |
Purgatoire River[10] | Arkansas River | 3,445 mi2 |
8,923 km23,321 mi2 |
8,601 km296.4% |
Lodgepole Creek | South Platte River | 3,233 mi2 |
8,374 km2191 mi2 |
496 km25.9% |
Rio Chama | Rio Grande | 3,168 mi2 |
8,204 km292 mi2 |
238 km22.9% |
San Luis Closed Basin[11][12] | endorheic basin | 2,949 mi2 |
7,638 km22,949 mi2 |
7,638 km2100% |
Frenchman Creek | Republican River | 2,856 mi2 |
7,398 km2980 mi2 |
2,539 km234.3% |
South Fork Republican River | Republican River | 2,778 mi2 |
7,195 km22,106 mi2 |
5,454 km275.8% |
San Luis Creek | San Luis Closed Basin | 2,703 mi2 |
7,000 km22,703 mi2 |
7,000 km2100% |
Cache la Poudre River[13] | South Platte River | 1,915 mi2 |
4,959 km21,771 mi2 |
4,587 km292.5% |
endorheic basin | 1,890 mi2 |
4,896 km2973 mi2 |
2,521 km251.5% | |
Huerfano River[14] | Arkansas River | 1,869 mi2 |
4,840 km21,869 mi2 |
4,840 km2100% |
Big Sandy Creek | Arkansas River | 1,863 mi2 |
4,825 km21,863 mi2 |
4,825 km2100% |
Bear Creek | 1,737 mi2 |
4,500 km2965 mi2 |
2,500 km255.6% | |
North Fork Cimarron River | Cimarron River | 1,723 mi2 |
4,462 km2859 mi2 |
2,225 km249.9% |
Arikaree River[15] | North Fork Republican River | 1,710 mi2 |
4,429 km21,647 mi2 |
4,265 km296.3% |
San Miguel River | Dolores River | 1,567 mi2 |
4,060 km21,567 mi2 |
4,060 km2100% |
Frenchman Creek | 1,491 mi2 |
3,862 km2373 mi2 |
966 km225.0% | |
Roaring Fork River[16] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 1,454 mi2 |
3,766 km21,454 mi2 |
3,766 km2100% |
Crow Creek | South Platte River | 1,435 mi2 |
3,717 km2850 mi2 |
2,201 km259.2% |
Horse Creek | Arkansas River | 1,421 mi2 |
3,680 km21,421 mi2 |
3,680 km2100% |
Ladder Creek | Smoky Hill River | 1,407 mi2 |
3,645 km2256 mi2 |
663 km218.2% |
Bijou Creek | South Platte River | 1,395 mi2 |
3,612 km21,395 mi2 |
3,612 km2100% |
endorheic basin | 1,381 mi2 |
3,577 km2351 mi2 |
908 km225.4% | |
Rush Creek | Arkansas River | 1,378 mi2 |
3,570 km21,378 mi2 |
3,570 km2100% |
Animas River | San Juan River | 1,375 mi2 |
3,562 km21,147 mi2 |
2,971 km283.4% |
Saguache Creek | San Luis Creek | 1,345 mi2 |
3,482 km21,345 mi2 |
3,482 km2100% |
Montezuma Creek | San Juan River | 1,175 mi2 |
3,044 km2380 mi2 |
983 km232.3% |
1,158 mi2 |
3,000 km2309 mi2 |
800 km226.7% | ||
Beaver Creek | South Platte River | 1,135 mi2 |
2,939 km21,135 mi2 |
2,939 km2100% |
Uncompahgre River | Gunnison River | 1,128 mi2 |
2,921 km21,128 mi2 |
2,921 km2100% |
Tomichi Creek | Gunnison River | 1,109 mi2 |
2,874 km21,109 mi2 |
2,874 km2100% |
Apishapa River[14] | Arkansas River | 1,080 mi2 |
2,798 km21,080 mi2 |
2,798 km2100% |
Saint Vrain Creek[17] | South Platte River | 993 mi2 |
2,572 km2993 mi2 |
2,572 km2100% |
Eagle River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 971 mi2 |
2,515 km2971 mi2 |
2,515 km2100% |
Vermillion Creek | Green River | 965 mi2 |
2,500 km2446 mi2 |
1,155 km246.2% |
North Fork Gunnison River | Gunnison River | 962 mi2 |
2,492 km2962 mi2 |
2,492 km2100% |
Fountain Creek[18] | Arkansas River | 933 mi2 |
2,418 km2933 mi2 |
2,418 km2100% |
Big Thompson River[13] | South Platte River | 830 mi2 |
2,149 km2830 mi2 |
2,149 km2100% |
Two Butte Creek | Arkansas River | 814 mi2 |
2,107 km2814 mi2 |
2,107 km2100% |
Mancos River | San Juan River | 810 mi2 |
2,099 km2762 mi2 |
1,973 km294.0% |
Conejos River | Rio Grande | 802 mi2 |
2,078 km2568 mi2 |
1,471 km270.8% |
North Fork Smoky Hill River | Smoky Hill River | 759 mi2 |
1,965 km2366 mi2 |
947 km248.2% |
South Platte River | 753 mi2 |
1,949 km2142 mi2 |
368 km218.9% | |
Beaver Creek | 749 mi2 |
1,939 km2201 mi2 |
522 km226.9% | |
North Fork Cimarron River | 748 mi2 |
1,938 km2507 mi2 |
1,314 km267.8% | |
Chico Creek | Arkansas River | 747 mi2 |
1,934 km2747 mi2 |
1,934 km2100% |
Kiowa Creek | South Platte River | 729 mi2 |
1,888 km2729 mi2 |
1,888 km2100% |
Pawnee Creek | South Platte River | 724 mi2 |
1,875 km2724 mi2 |
1,875 km2100% |
McElmo Creek | San Juan River | 711 mi2 |
1,842 km2639 mi2 |
1,654 km289.8% |
Blue River[19] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 683 mi2 |
1,770 km2683 mi2 |
1,770 km2100% |
Piedra River | San Juan River | 683 mi2 |
1,770 km2683 mi2 |
1,770 km2100% |
Piceance Creek | White River | 629 mi2 |
1,630 km2629 mi2 |
1,630 km2100% |
Beaver Creek | 619 mi2 |
1,602 km281 mi2 |
210 km213.1% | |
Clear Creek[19] | South Platte River | 578 mi2 |
1,497 km2578 mi2 |
1,497 km2100% |
Taylor River[16] | Gunnison River | 486 mi2 |
1,258 km2486 mi2 |
1,258 km2100% |
Boulder Creek[20] | Saint Vrain Creek | 448 mi2 |
1,160 km2448 mi2 |
1,160 km2100% |
Cherry Creek | South Platte River | 405 mi2 |
1,050 km2405 mi2 |
1,050 km2100% |
See also[]
- Hydrology
- State of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- List of rivers in Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c The origin and route of the Colorado River was the subject of centuries of exploration and debate. United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps of the 19th century showed the river originating at the confluence of the Green River and the Grand River in what is now Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Thus, the namesake river of the State of Colorado did not flow through that state. On 25 July 1921, House Joint Resolution 460 of the 66th United States Congress changed the name of the Grand River to the Colorado River over the objections of the USGS, which noted that the drainage basin of the Green River was 70% more extensive than that of the Grand River, although the flow of the Grand River at the confluence frequently exceeded that of the Green River.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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).
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ 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[]
Coordinates: 38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W
- Colorado geography-related lists
- Geography of Colorado
- Lists of landforms of Colorado
- Rivers of Colorado
- Lists of drainage basins
- Watersheds of the United States