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Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins

Highest listed crest 11.56 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft25 crests since 1997

The Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins crested above flood stage 2 times among the 25 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1997 to 2021. The highest, 11.56 ft on September 13, 2013, was moderate flooding, 1.56 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Cache La Poudre River (CO) crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.56 ft
September 13, 2013; 8,140 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 12.0 ft
Crests at major
0
2 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 13, 2013
11.56 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Larimer County
Near Fort Collins (2.8 mi), Timnath (6.6 mi), Wellington (8.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins
Action stage8.52May 31, 2014The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.01Apr 30, 1999Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage11.01Sep 13, 2013Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage12.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

25 crests from 1997 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins, 1997 to 2021 4681012ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 12.0 ft Jun 9, 1997: 7.22 ft, below flood stage; 3,290 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1998: 4.70 ft, below flood stage; 959 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1999: 10.46 ft, minor flooding; 7,710 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2000: 4.62 ft, below flood stage; 785 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2001: 4.44 ft, below flood stage; 713 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2002: 4.57 ft, below flood stage; 751 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2003: 6.42 ft, below flood stage; 2,100 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2004: 5.00 ft, below flood stage; 997 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2005: 6.00 ft, below flood stage; 1,720 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2005: 5.31 ft, below flood stage; 1,210 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2007: 4.86 ft, below flood stage; 933 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2008: 6.15 ft, below flood stage; 1,830 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2009: 6.10 ft, below flood stage; 1,790 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2010: 9.27 ft, action stage; 4,570 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2011: 7.88 ft, below flood stage; 3,220 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2012: 4.48 ft, below flood stage; 764 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2013: 11.56 ft, moderate flooding; 8,140 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2014: 9.54 ft, action stage; 5,860 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2015: 8.49 ft, below flood stage; 4,420 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2016: 7.21 ft, below flood stage; 2,990 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2017: 7.05 ft, below flood stage; 2,850 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2018: 5.49 ft, below flood stage; 1,650 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2019: 5.74 ft, below flood stage; 1,860 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2020: 6.31 ft, below flood stage; 2,340 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2021: 6.80 ft, below flood stage; 2,750 cubic feet per second Highest, 11.56 ft, Sep 13, 2013 20002005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins 1990s: 1 1 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 0 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Fort Collins
1Sep 13, 201311.56+1.56Moderate8,140
2Apr 30, 199910.46+0.46Minor7,710
3May 31, 20149.54−0.46Action5,860
4Jun 12, 20109.27−0.73Action4,570
5Jun 12, 20158.49−1.51Below flood stage4,420
6Jun 9, 20117.88−2.12Below flood stage3,220
7Jun 9, 19977.22−2.78Below flood stage3,290
8Jun 12, 20167.21−2.79Below flood stage2,990
9May 27, 20177.05−2.95Below flood stage2,850
10May 23, 20216.80−3.20Below flood stage2,750
11May 30, 20036.42−3.58Below flood stage2,100
12Jun 1, 20206.31−3.69Below flood stage2,340
13Jun 7, 20086.15−3.85Below flood stage1,830
14Jun 22, 20096.10−3.90Below flood stage1,790
15Jun 4, 20056.00−4.00Below flood stage1,720
16Jul 1, 20195.74−4.26Below flood stage1,860
17May 28, 20185.49−4.51Below flood stage1,650
18Oct 30, 20055.31−4.69Below flood stage1,210
19Jul 1, 20045.00−5.00Below flood stage997
20Jun 13, 20074.86−5.14Below flood stage933
21Jun 4, 19984.70−5.30Below flood stage959
22May 6, 20004.62−5.38Below flood stage785
23May 31, 20024.57−5.43Below flood stage751
24Jul 30, 20124.48−5.52Below flood stage764
25May 30, 20014.44−5.56Below flood stage713

The worst floods along the Cache La Poudre River (CO)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Cache La Poudre River (CO) that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 13, 2013: 11.56 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Fort CollinsCO · Sep 13, 2013 · 10.29 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • GreeleyCO · Sep 15, 2013 · 9.25 ft · Minor · its highest
  • GreeleyCO · Sep 15, 2013 · 8.65 ft · Minor

April 30, 1999: 10.46 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Cache La Poudre River (CO)

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

Flood gauges on the Cache La Poudre River (CO)
Fort CollinsCO7.510.29 ft, Sep 13, 20130
Fort Collins this gaugeCO10.011.56 ft, Sep 13, 20130
GreeleyCO8.58.73 ft, Jun 3, 20140
GreeleyCO8.09.25 ft, Sep 15, 20130

Other gauges in Larimer County

Flood gauges in Larimer County
Loveland10.011.93 ft, Sep 13, 20131
Lake Estes6.59.05 ft, Sep 12, 20131
Masonville11.514.82 ft, Sep 13, 20131
Fort Collins7.510.29 ft, Sep 13, 20130

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge POUC2, 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.