Colorado River at Moab
Utah · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 09180500 — COLORADO RIVER NEAR CISCO, UT · NWS forecast point CLRU1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Low and slow — expect to drag in the shallows
At 1,650 CFS, this gauge is running 38% of normal for late July — below the 4,360 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 107 years of record (1914–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Moab
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge CLRU1, issued by WFO GJT. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 23.0 ft
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Moderate flood 21.0 ft
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Minor flood 19.0 ft
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Action 13.3 ft
- Right now 1.83 ft
NWS forecast: 1.88 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Moab
Daily values from USGS gauge 09180500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Moab
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 21.52 ft | 66,100 CFS | Jun 3, 1914 |
| 20.70 ft | 70,300 CFS | May 27, 1984 |
| 19.70 ft | 76,800 CFS | Jun 9, 1917 |
| 19.23 ft | 61,900 CFS | Jun 27, 1983 |
| 18.92 ft | 64,200 CFS | Jun 9, 1957 |
| 18.84 ft | 64,400 CFS | May 15, 1941 |
| 17.32 ft | 65,000 CFS | Jun 1, 1928 |
| 17.18 ft | 57,200 CFS | Jun 9, 1952 |
| 17.04 ft | 51,900 CFS | Jun 18, 1995 |
| 16.70 ft | 59,600 CFS | May 27, 1929 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Colorado River at Moab
This gauge measures Colorado River at Moab, Utah — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Moab Daily; beginner rule is under 10,000 CFS.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 4,360 CFS for late July, from 107 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.
Colorado River at Moab — common questions
What is the current flow on Colorado River at Moab?
As of the last reading on this page, Colorado River at Moab was running 1,650 CFS at a gage height of 1.83 ft, or 38% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 09180500, 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 4,360 CFS, calculated from 107 years of record (1914–2026). 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.
What flow is good for tubing Colorado River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.