Colorado drainage basins
See also: List of rivers in Colorado
The Gunnison River in the Black Canyon.
Main article: Geography of Colorado
The U.S State of Colorado includes the headwaters of several unimportant 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 via the South Platte River, the North Platte River, the Republican River, the Arkansas River, the Cimarron River, the Canadian River, or the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico. 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 Bear Creek Basin and the White Woman Basin spanning the Colorado-Kansas border north and south of the Arkansas River.
Table of major drainage basins
| Basin | Outlet | Total Area[2] | In-State Area[2] | % In-State[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River[1][3] | Gulf of California | 703,132 km2 271,481 mi2 |
100,195 km2 38,686 mi2 |
14.2% |
| Arkansas River[4] | Mississippi River | 478,501 km2 184,750 mi2 |
70,022 km2 27,036 mi2 |
14.6% |
| Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte)[5] | Gulf of Mexico | 457,275 km2 176,555 mi2 |
12,070 km2 4,660 mi2 |
2.6% |
| Canadian River | Arkansas River | 122,701 km2 47,375 mi2 |
154 km2 59 mi2 |
0.1% |
| Green River[6] | Colorado River | 115,903 km2 44,750 mi2 |
27,340 km2 10,556 mi2 |
23.6% |
| North Platte River[7] | Platte River | 80,755 km2 31,180 mi2 |
5,129 km2 1,980 mi2 |
6.4% |
| upper Colorado River (Grand River)[1] | Colorado River | 67,993 km2 26,252 mi2 |
57,680 km2 22,270 mi2 |
84.8% |
| San Juan River[3] | Colorado River | 64,560 km2 24,927 mi2 |
15,175 km2 5,859 mi2 |
23.5% |
| South Platte River[8] | Platte River | 62,738 km2 24,223 mi2 |
48,948 km2 18,899 mi2 |
78.0% |
| Smoky Hill River | Kansas River | 51,783 km2 19,994 mi2 |
2,493 km2 963 mi2 |
4.8% |
| Cimarron River | Arkansas River | 44,890 km2 17,332 mi2 |
5,481 km2 2,116 mi2 |
12.2% |
| Yampa River | Green River | 21,506 km2 8,304 mi2 |
15,289 km2 5,903 mi2 |
71.1% |
| Gunnison River[3][9] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 20,851 km2 8,051 mi2 |
20,851 km2 8,051 mi2 |
100% |
| North Fork Republican River | Republican River | 13,172 km2 5,086 mi2 |
11,522 km2 4,449 mi2 |
87.5% |
| White River | Green River | 12,989 km2 5,015 mi2 |
9,796 km2 3,782 mi2 |
75.4% |
| Dolores River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 11,998 km2 4,633 mi2 |
10,619 km2 4,100 mi2 |
88.5% |
| Laramie River[7] | North Platte River | 11,961 km2 4,618 mi2 |
989 km2 382 mi2 |
8.3% |
| Little Snake River | Yampa River | 10,629 km2 4,104 mi2 |
4,412 km2 1,704 mi2 |
41.5% |
| Purgatoire River[10] | Arkansas River | 8,923 km2 3,445 mi2 |
8,601 km2 3,321 mi2 |
96.4% |
| Lodgepole Creek | South Platte River | 8,374 km2 3,233 mi2 |
496 km2 191 mi2 |
5.9% |
| Rio Chama | Rio Grande | 8,204 km2 3,168 mi2 |
238 km2 92 mi2 |
2.9% |
| San Luis Closed Basin[11][12] | endorheic basin | 7,638 km2 2,949 mi2 |
7,638 km2 2,949 mi2 |
100% |
| Frenchman Creek | Republican River | 7,398 km2 2,856 mi2 |
2,539 km2 980 mi2 |
34.3% |
| South Fork Republican River | Republican River | 7,195 km2 2,778 mi2 |
5,454 km2 2,106 mi2 |
75.8% |
| San Luis Creek | San Luis Closed Basin | 7,000 km2 2,703 mi2 |
7,000 km2 2,703 mi2 |
100% |
| Cache la Poudre River[13] | South Platte River | 4,959 km2 1,915 mi2 |
4,587 km2 1,771 mi2 |
92.5% |
| Bear Creek Basin | endorheic basin | 4,896 km2 1,890 mi2 |
2,521 km2 973 mi2 |
51.5% |
| Huerfano River[14] | Arkansas River | 4,840 km2 1,869 mi2 |
4,840 km2 1,869 mi2 |
100% |
| Big Sandy Creek | Arkansas River | 4,825 km2 1,863 mi2 |
4,825 km2 1,863 mi2 |
100% |
| Bear Creek | Bear Creek Basin | 4,500 km2 1,737 mi2 |
2,500 km2 965 mi2 |
55.6% |
| North Fork Cimarron River | Cimarron River | 4,462 km2 1,723 mi2 |
2,225 km2 859 mi2 |
49.9% |
| Arikaree River[15] | North Fork Republican River | 4,429 km2 1,710 mi2 |
4,265 km2 1,647 mi2 |
96.3% |
| San Miguel River | Dolores River | 4,060 km2 1,567 mi2 |
4,060 km2 1,567 mi2 |
100% |
| Stinking Water Creek | Frenchman Creek | 3,862 km2 1,491 mi2 |
966 km2 373 mi2 |
25.0% |
| Roaring Fork River[16] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 3,766 km2 1,454 mi2 |
3,766 km2 1,454 mi2 |
100% |
| Crow Creek | South Platte River | 3,717 km2 1,435 mi2 |
2,201 km2 850 mi2 |
59.2% |
| Horse Creek | Arkansas River | 3,680 km2 1,421 mi2 |
3,680 km2 1,421 mi2 |
100% |
| Ladder Creek | Smoky Hill River | 3,645 km2 1,407 mi2 |
663 km2 256 mi2 |
18.2% |
| Bijou Creek | South Platte River | 3,612 km2 1,395 mi2 |
3,612 km2 1,395 mi2 |
100% |
| White Woman Basin | endorheic basin | 3,577 km2 1,381 mi2 |
908 km2 351 mi2 |
25.4% |
| Rush Creek | Arkansas River | 3,570 km2 1,378 mi2 |
3,570 km2 1,378 mi2 |
100% |
| Animas River | San Juan River | 3,562 km2 1,375 mi2 |
2,971 km2 1,147 mi2 |
83.4% |
| Saguache Creek | San Luis Creek | 3,482 km2 1,345 mi2 |
3,482 km2 1,345 mi2 |
100% |
| Montezuma Creek | San Juan River | 3,044 km2 1,175 mi2 |
983 km2 380 mi2 |
32.3% |
| White Woman Creek | White Woman Basin | 3,000 km2 1,158 mi2 |
800 km2 309 mi2 |
26.7% |
| Beaver Creek | South Platte River | 2,939 km2 1,135 mi2 |
2,939 km2 1,135 mi2 |
100% |
| Uncompahgre River | Gunnison River | 2,921 km2 1,128 mi2 |
2,921 km2 1,128 mi2 |
100% |
| Tomichi Creek | Gunnison River | 2,874 km2 1,109 mi2 |
2,874 km2 1,109 mi2 |
100% |
| Apishapa Creek[14] | Arkansas River | 2,798 km2 1,080 mi2 |
2,798 km2 1,080 mi2 |
100% |
| Saint Vrain Creek[17] | South Platte River | 2,572 km2 993 mi2 |
2,572 km2 993 mi2 |
100% |
| Eagle River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 2,515 km2 971 mi2 |
2,515 km2 971 mi2 |
100% |
| Vermillion Creek | Green River | 2,500 km2 965 mi2 |
1,155 km2 446 mi2 |
46.2% |
| North Fork Gunnison River | Gunnison River | 2,492 km2 962 mi2 |
2,492 km2 962 mi2 |
100% |
| Fountain Creek[18] | Arkansas River | 2,418 km2 933 mi2 |
2,418 km2 933 mi2 |
100% |
| Big Thompson River[13] | South Platte River | 2,149 km2 830 mi2 |
2,149 km2 830 mi2 |
100% |
| Two Butte Creek | Arkansas River | 2,107 km2 814 mi2 |
2,107 km2 814 mi2 |
100% |
| Mancos River | San Juan River | 2,099 km2 810 mi2 |
1,973 km2 762 mi2 |
94.0% |
| Conejos River | Rio Grande | 2,078 km2 802 mi2 |
1,471 km2 568 mi2 |
70.8% |
| North Fork Smoky Hill River | Smoky Hill River | 1,965 km2 759 mi2 |
947 km2 366 mi2 |
48.2% |
| Sidney Draw | South Platte River | 1,949 km2 753 mi2 |
368 km2 142 mi2 |
18.9% |
| South Fork Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek | 1,939 km2 749 mi2 |
522 km2 201 mi2 |
26.9% |
| Sand Arroyo Creek | North Fork Cimarron River | 1,938 km2 748 mi2 |
1,314 km2 507 mi2 |
67.8% |
| Chico Creek | Arkansas River | 1,934 km2 747 mi2 |
1,934 km2 747 mi2 |
100% |
| Kiowa Creek | South Platte River | 1,888 km2 729 mi2 |
1,888 km2 729 mi2 |
100% |
| Pawnee Creek | South Platte River | 1,875 km2 724 mi2 |
1,875 km2 724 mi2 |
100% |
| McElmo Creek | San Juan River | 1,842 km2 711 mi2 |
1,654 km2 639 mi2 |
89.8% |
| Blue River[19] | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 1,770 km2 683 mi2 |
1,770 km2 683 mi2 |
100% |
| Piedra River | San Juan River | 1,770 km2 683 mi2 |
1,770 km2 683 mi2 |
100% |
| Piceance Creek | White River | 1,630 km2 629 mi2 |
1,630 km2 629 mi2 |
100% |
| Little Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek | 1,602 km2 619 mi2 |
210 km2 81 mi2 |
13.1% |
| Clear Creek[19] | South Platte River | 1,497 km2 578 mi2 |
1,497 km2 578 mi2 |
100% |
| Taylor River[16] | Gunnison River | 1,258 km2 486 mi2 |
1,258 km2 486 mi2 |
100% |
| Boulder Creek[20] | Saint Vrain Creek | 1,160 km2 448 mi2 |
1,160 km2 448 mi2 |
100% |
| Cherry Creek | South Platte River | 1,050 km2 405 mi2 |
1,050 km2 405 mi2 |
100% |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 3 Gustafson, Daniel L. (2003-01-24). "Hydrologic Unit Project". Montana State University, Environmental Statistics Group. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 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 Creek.
- ↑ 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).
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 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
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