Fryingpan River at Basalt
Colorado · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 09080400 — FRYINGPAN RIVER NEAR RUEDI, CO. · NWS forecast point RUDC2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
About normal for the date
At 199 CFS, this gauge is running 104% of normal for late July — close to the 192 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 57 years of record (1969–2026). The stage is 1.1 ft below the NWS action stage of 3.0 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 Basalt
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge RUDC2, issued by WFO GJT. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 8.0 ft
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Moderate flood 5.5 ft
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Minor flood 3.4 ft
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Action 3.0 ft
- Right now 1.87 ft
12 months of flow at Basalt
Daily values from USGS gauge 09080400. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Basalt
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 5.16 ft | 2,690 CFS | Jun 18, 1965 |
| 3.89 ft | 1,390 CFS | Jun 24, 1983 |
| 3.82 ft | 1,720 CFS | May 26, 1967 |
| 3.61 ft | 1,200 CFS | Jun 15, 1985 |
| 3.57 ft | 1,140 CFS | Jul 4, 1984 |
| 3.56 ft | 1,110 CFS | Jul 11, 1995 |
| 3.50 ft | 1,400 CFS | Sep 16, 1976 |
| 3.48 ft | 1,130 CFS | May 29, 1993 |
| 3.43 ft | 1,000 CFS | Jun 3, 1997 |
| 3.38 ft | 965 CFS | May 1, 1991 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Fryingpan River at Basalt
This gauge measures Fryingpan River at Basalt, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Ruedi Dam tailwater; the Toilet Bowl.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 192 CFS for late July, from 57 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.
Fryingpan River at Basalt — common questions
What is the current flow on Fryingpan River at Basalt?
As of the last reading on this page, Fryingpan River at Basalt was running 199 CFS at a gage height of 1.87 ft, or 104% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 09080400, 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 192 CFS, calculated from 57 years of record (1969–2026). 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 Fryingpan River at Basalt 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 192 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 09080400. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge RUDC2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.