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Arkansas River at Portland

Highest listed crest 12.94 ftFlood stage 9.0 ft16 crests since 1975

The Arkansas River at Portland crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 16 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1975 to 2024. The highest, 12.94 ft on July 6, 2006, was major flooding, 3.94 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
12.94 ft
July 6, 2006; 15,900 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
9.0 ft
Major flooding from 11.0 ft
Crests at major
2
1st of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
September 12, 2013
9.46 ft, minor flooding
Location
Fremont County
Near Cañon City (11.7 mi)

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 Portland
Action stage7.011Jun 10, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)9.01Sep 12, 2013Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.01Aug 2, 1975Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage11.02Jul 6, 2006Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

16 crests from 1975 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Arkansas River at Portland, 1975 to 2024 68101214ft Flood stage 9.0 ftMajor 11.0 ft Aug 2, 1975: 10.09 ft, moderate flooding; 10,200 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 1976: 11.26 ft, major flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 1985: 8.93 ft, action stage; 8,460 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1991: 8.81 ft, action stage; 7,930 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1992: 8.03 ft, action stage; 6,730 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1995: 8.51 ft, action stage; 7,470 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1997: 7.70 ft, action stage; 6,360 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1999: 8.03 ft, action stage; 6,190 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2006: 12.94 ft, major flooding; 15,900 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2010: 7.13 ft, action stage; 5,280 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 2013: 9.46 ft, minor flooding; 7,820 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2015: 8.09 ft, action stage; 7,220 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2017: 6.43 ft, below flood stage; 4,400 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 2018: 7.04 ft, action stage; 4,930 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2019: 7.52 ft, action stage; 5,500 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2024: 7.48 ft, action stage; 5,430 cubic feet per second Highest, 12.94 ft, Jul 6, 2006 19801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Arkansas River at Portland 1970s: 2 2 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 1 2010s: 1 2020s: 0 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 Portland
1Jul 6, 200612.94+3.94Major15,900
2Aug 2, 197611.26+2.26Major12,800
3Aug 2, 197510.09+1.09Moderate10,200
4Sep 12, 20139.46+0.46Minor7,820
5Jul 23, 19858.93−0.07Action8,460
6Aug 12, 19918.81−0.19Action7,930
7Jun 18, 19958.51−0.49Action7,470
8Jun 18, 20158.09−0.91Action7,220
9Aug 17, 19928.03−0.97Action6,730
10Jun 24, 19998.03−0.97Action6,190
11Jun 7, 19977.70−1.30Action6,360
12Jul 1, 20197.52−1.48Action5,500
13Jun 10, 20247.48−1.52Action5,430
14Jun 6, 20107.13−1.87Action5,280
15Jul 23, 20187.04−1.96Action4,930
16Jun 23, 20176.43−2.57Below flood stage4,400

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.

September 12, 2013: 9.46 ft here, minor flooding

  • La JuntaCO · Sep 17, 2013 · 12.21 ft · Minor
  • AvondaleCO · Sep 14, 2013 · 9.46 ft · Minor
  • Catlin DamCO · Sep 16, 2013 · 8.24 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 DamCO8.011.30 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
Portland this gaugeCO9.012.94 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 Fremont County

Flood gauges in Fremont County
Cañon City10.010.90 ft, Jun 18, 19950
Parkdale9.09.13 ft, Jun 9, 19850

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge PRTC2, 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.