Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Arkansas River at Catlin Dam

Highest listed crest 11.30 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft12 crests since 1972

The Arkansas River at Catlin Dam crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 12 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1972 to 2013. The highest, 11.30 ft on May 1, 1999, was major flooding, 3.30 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Arkansas River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.30 ft
May 1, 1999; 26,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 10.0 ft
Crests at major
2
1st of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
September 16, 2013
8.24 ft, minor flooding
Location
Otero County
Colorado
Identifiers
NWS CDMC2
USGS 07119700; out of service

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Arkansas River at Catlin Dam
Action stage7.04Jun 5, 1986The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.02Sep 16, 2013Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage9.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage10.02May 1, 1999Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

12 crests from 1972 to 2013. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Arkansas River at Catlin Dam, 1972 to 2013 -5051015ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 10.0 ft Aug 4, 1972: 7.63 ft, action stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1978: 10.81 ft, major flooding; 23,300 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1980: 7.47 ft, action stage; 6,940 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1981: 7.85 ft, action stage; 8,910 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 1982: -0.99 ft, below flood stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1986: 7.15 ft, action stage; 6,330 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1990: 6.53 ft, below flood stage; 8,100 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1994: 8.02 ft, minor flooding; 8,740 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1999: 11.30 ft, major flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2006: 6.15 ft, below flood stage; 4,140 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2010: 6.08 ft, below flood stage; 3,670 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 2013: 8.24 ft, minor flooding; 8,060 cubic feet per second Highest, 11.30 ft, May 1, 1999 1980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Arkansas River at Catlin Dam 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Arkansas River at Catlin Dam
1May 1, 199911.30+3.30Major26,000
2Jul 10, 197810.81+2.81Major23,300
3Sep 16, 20138.24+0.24Minor8,060
4Jun 4, 19948.02+0.02Minor8,740
5Aug 12, 19817.85−0.15Action8,910
6Aug 4, 19727.63−0.37Action10,000
7May 9, 19807.47−0.53Action6,940
8Jun 5, 19867.15−0.85Action6,330
9Aug 6, 19906.53−1.47Below flood stage8,100
10Jul 11, 20066.15−1.85Below flood stage4,140
11Jun 10, 20106.08−1.92Below flood stage3,670
12Aug 21, 1982-0.99−8.99Below flood stage12,700

The worst floods along the Arkansas River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Arkansas River that crested above flood stage within a week.

May 1, 1999: 11.30 ft here, major flooding

  • La JuntaCO · May 2, 1999 · 15.55 ft · Major · its highest
  • AvondaleCO · Apr 30, 1999 · 10.60 ft · Moderate · its highest

July 10, 1978: 10.81 ft here, major flooding

  • La JuntaCO · Jul 10, 1978 · 11.87 ft · Minor

September 16, 2013: 8.24 ft here, minor flooding

  • La JuntaCO · Sep 17, 2013 · 12.21 ft · Minor
  • AvondaleCO · Sep 14, 2013 · 9.46 ft · Minor
  • PortlandCO · Sep 12, 2013 · 9.46 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Arkansas River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Arkansas River
PuebloCO8.08.29 ft, Jun 10, 20240
Cañon CityCO10.010.90 ft, Jun 18, 19950
Catlin Dam this gaugeCO8.011.30 ft, May 1, 19992
CoolidgeKS8.08.85 ft, Aug 17, 20150
Garden CityKS10.022.30 ft, Jun 19, 19654
La JuntaCO11.015.55 ft, May 2, 19991
LamarCO11.013.06 ft, May 27, 19960
ParkdaleCO9.09.13 ft, Jun 9, 19850
PortlandCO9.012.94 ft, Jul 6, 20062
SyracuseKS10.021.80 ft, Jun 17, 19653
AvondaleCO7.010.60 ft, Apr 30, 19990
FowlerCO13.513.65 ft, Jun 24, 20230
NepestaCO16.516.66 ft, Jun 23, 20230

Other gauges in Otero County

Flood gauges in Otero County
La Junta11.015.55 ft, May 2, 19991
Fowler13.513.65 ft, Jun 24, 20230

Otero County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Colorado

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CDMC2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.