Blue River at Silverthorne
Colorado · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 09050700 — BLUE RIVER BELOW DILLON, CO. · NWS forecast point BLRC2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Low and clear — wadeable, and fish will be spooky
At 54 CFS, this gauge is running 38% of normal for late July — below the 141 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 63 years of record (1963–2026). The stage is 2.6 ft below the NWS action stage of 3.5 ft.
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Silverthorne
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BLRC2, issued by WFO BOU. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 7.0 ft
- 7.0 ft Widespread, major flooding occurs with several bridges overtopped downstream of Dillon Dam. Many roads, homes and businesses are impacted.
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Moderate flood 5.5 ft
- 6.0 ft Colorado Highway 9 is overtopped near Silverthorne.
- 6.5 ft Water flows over the 6th Street bridge and into businesses in Silverthorne.
-
Minor flood 4.0 ft · 2,002 CFS
- 4.0 ft Homes flood in the South 40 Subdivision in northern Silverthorne.
- 5.0 ft Homes flood along the Blue River in Silverthorne.
-
Action 3.5 ft · 1,561 CFS
- 3.7 ft Water approaches yards in the South 40 Subdivision in northern Silverthorne and walkways along the Blue River in Silverthorne.
- Right now 0.86 ft
NWS forecast: 0.86 ft by Jul 29, 1:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Silverthorne
Daily values from USGS gauge 09050700. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Silverthorne
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 3.95 ft | 1,990 CFS | Jun 22, 1983 |
| 3.89 ft | 1,910 CFS | Jul 6, 2019 |
| 3.88 ft | 2,010 CFS | May 25, 1984 |
| 3.83 ft | 1,870 CFS | Jun 10, 1985 |
| 3.78 ft | 1,800 CFS | Jun 17, 2015 |
| 3.76 ft | 2,000 CFS | Jul 14, 1995 |
| 3.74 ft | 1,780 CFS | Jul 9, 2011 |
| 3.68 ft | 1,730 CFS | Jun 26, 1971 |
| 3.68 ft | 1,714 CFS | Jun 8, 2014 |
| 3.64 ft | 1,680 CFS | Jun 10, 1972 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Blue River at Silverthorne
This gauge measures Blue River at Silverthorne, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Dillon Dam tailwater; year-round flow page.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 141 CFS for late July, from 63 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Blue River at Silverthorne — common questions
What is the current flow on Blue River at Silverthorne?
As of the last reading on this page, Blue River at Silverthorne was running 54 CFS at a gage height of 0.86 ft, or 38% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 09050700, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 141 CFS, calculated from 63 years of record (1963–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Blue River at Silverthorne wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 141 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 09050700. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BLRC2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.