San Juan River at Navajo Dam
New Mexico · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 09355500 — SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM · NWS forecast point ARCN5
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Up and off-colour — heavier water than usual for wading
At 827 CFS, this gauge is running 130% of normal for late July — above the 637 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 61 years of record (1963–2023). The stage is 2.2 ft below the NWS action stage of 6.6 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 Navajo Dam
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge ARCN5, issued by WFO ABQ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Minor flood 7.0 ft · 5,000 CFS
- 7.0 ft Minor flooding is possible with inundation to structures located close to the river from near Archuleta to Bloomfield.
-
Action 6.6 ft · 4,338 CFS
- Right now 4.41 ft
NWS forecast: 4.31 ft by Jul 29, 1:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Navajo Dam
Daily values from USGS gauge 09355500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Navajo Dam
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.00 ft | 18,900 CFS | Jul 27, 1957 |
| 7.19 ft | 6,680 CFS | Mar 27, 1955 |
| 7.00 ft | 4,952 CFS | Jun 16, 2017 |
| 6.93 ft | 5,460 CFS | Jun 9, 2011 |
| 6.89 ft | 5,460 CFS | May 29, 2008 |
| 6.85 ft | 5,380 CFS | Jun 8, 2009 |
| 6.77 ft | 5,090 CFS | May 18, 2005 |
| 6.71 ft | 5,660 CFS | Jun 9, 1997 |
| 6.67 ft | 5,780 CFS | May 23, 1979 |
| 6.65 ft | 5,520 CFS | May 30, 2001 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About San Juan River at Navajo Dam
This gauge measures San Juan River at Navajo Dam, New Mexico — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Quality Waters below Navajo Dam; Texas Hole.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 637 CFS for late July, from 61 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.
San Juan River at Navajo Dam — common questions
What is the current flow on San Juan River at Navajo Dam?
As of the last reading on this page, San Juan River at Navajo Dam was running 827 CFS at a gage height of 4.41 ft, or 130% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 09355500, 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 637 CFS, calculated from 61 years of record (1963–2023). 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 San Juan River at Navajo Dam 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 637 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 09355500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge ARCN5. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.