USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
09371520 McELMO CREEK ABOVE TRAIL CANYON NEAR CORTEZ, CO
LOCATION - Lat 37°19'36", long 108°42'00" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in NE 1/4 NE 1/4 sec.03, T.35 N., R.17 W., Montezuma County, CO, Hydrologic Unit 14080202, on left bank adjacent to abandoned gravel pit 1.5 mi downstream from Mud Creek, 1.9 mi upstream from Trail Canyon, and 5.5 mi south of Cortez.
DRAINAGE AREA - 234 mi².
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - August 1993 to current year.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder with satellite telemetry and crest-stage gage. Elevation of gage is 5,690 ft above NGVD of 1929, from topographic map.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of Sept. 9, 1927 at location 1.5 mi upstream was determined to be 5,560 ft³/s, gage height, 5.72 ft, site and datum then in use. Feb. 20, 1993, 890 ft³/s, gage height, 7.57 ft, present datum, on basis of slope-area measurement at site 1 mi upstream.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 3,520 ft³/s, Sept. 29, 2005, from rating curve extended above 2,200 ft/s, gage height, 12.53 ft, from floodmarks.