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List of drainage basins in Colorado

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This is a list of drainage basins in the U.S. State of Colorado.

A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.
The location of the State of Colorado in the United States of America.
The Gunnison River in the Black Canyon.

Colorado encompasses the headwaters of several important rivers. The state is divided into two major hydrographic regions by the Continental Divide of the Americas. East of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow to the Gulf of Mexico, either via the Rio Grande or via one of several rivers (the South Platte River, the North Platte River, the Republican River, the Arkansas River, the Cimarron River, or the Canadian River) which eventually feed the Mississippi River along the way. West of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow via the Green River, the upper Colorado River[a] (formerly the Grand River), or the San Juan River into the Colorado River and on to the Gulf of California.

Colorado also has three significant endorheic basins: the San Luis Closed Basin in the San Luis Valley, and the Bear Creek Basin and the White Woman Basin spanning the Colorado-Kansas border north and south of the Arkansas River.

List of major drainage basins

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See also: List of rivers in Colorado
Major Drainage Basins of the State of Colorado
Basin Outlet Total Area[3] In-State Area[3] % In-State[3]
Colorado River[a][b] Gulf of California 001703,132 km2
271,481 mi2 		001100,195 km2
38,686 mi2 		A06414.2%
Arkansas River[c] Mississippi River 002478,501 km2
184,750 mi2 		00270,022 km2
27,036 mi2 		A06314.6%
Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte)[d] Gulf of Mexico 003457,275 km2
176,555 mi2 		00912,070 km2
4,660 mi2 		A0722.6%
Canadian River Arkansas River 004122,701 km2
47,375 mi2 		073154 km2
59 mi2 		A0730.1%
Green River[e] Colorado River 005115,903 km2
44,750 mi2 		00527,340 km2
10,556 mi2 		A05923.6%
North Platte River[f] Platte River 00680,755 km2
31,180 mi2 		0185,129 km2
1,980 mi2 		A0686.4%
upper Colorado River (Grand River)[a] Colorado River 00767,993 km2
26,252 mi2 		00357,680 km2
22,270 mi2 		A03884.8%
San Juan River[b] Colorado River 00864,560 km2
24,927 mi2 		00815,175 km2
5,859 mi2 		A06023.5%
South Platte River[g] Platte River 00962,738 km2
24,223 mi2 		00448,948 km2
18,899 mi2 		A04078.0%
Smoky Hill River Kansas River 01051,783 km2
19,994 mi2 		0402,493 km2
963 mi2 		A0704.8%
Cimarron River[h] Arkansas River 01144,890 km2
17,332 mi2 		0165,481 km2
2,116 mi2 		A06612.2%
Yampa River Green River 01221,506 km2
8,304 mi2 		00715,289 km2
5,903 mi2 		A04371.1%
Gunnison River[b][i] upper Colorado River (Grand River) 01320,851 km2
8,051 mi2 		00620,851 km2
8,051 mi2 		A001100%
North Fork Republican River Republican River 01413,172 km2
5,086 mi2 		01011,522 km2
4,449 mi2 		A03787.5%
White River Green River 01512,989 km2
5,015 mi2 		0129,796 km2
3,782 mi2 		A04275.4%
Dolores River upper Colorado River (Grand River) 01611,998 km2
4,633 mi2 		01110,619 km2
4,100 mi2 		A03688.5%
Laramie River[f] North Platte River 01711,961 km2
4,618 mi2 		061989 km2
382 mi2 		A0678.3%
Little Snake River Yampa River 01810,629 km2
4,104 mi2 		0224,412 km2
1,704 mi2 		A05241.5%
Purgatoire River[j] Arkansas River 0198,923 km2
3,445 mi2 		0138,601 km2
3,321 mi2 		A03196.4%
Lodgepole Creek South Platte River 0208,374 km2
3,233 mi2 		069496 km2
191 mi2 		A0695.9%
Rio Chama Rio Grande 0218,204 km2
3,168 mi2 		071238 km2
92 mi2 		A0712.9%
San Luis Closed Basin[k][l] endorheic basin 0227,638 km2
2,949 mi2 		0147,638 km2
2,949 mi2 		A002100%
Frenchman Creek Republican River 0237,398 km2
2,856 mi2 		0362,539 km2
980 mi2 		A05334.3%
South Fork Republican River Republican River 0247,195 km2
2,778 mi2 		0175,454 km2
2,106 mi2 		A04175.8%
San Luis Creek San Luis Closed Basin 0257,000 km2
2,703 mi2 		0157,000 km2
2,703 mi2 		A003100%
Cache la Poudre River[m] South Platte River 0264,959 km2
1,915 mi2 		0214,587 km2
1,771 mi2 		A03492.5%
Bear Creek Basin endorheic basin 0274,896 km2
1,890 mi2 		0372,521 km2
973 mi2 		A04851.5%
Huerfano River[n] Arkansas River 0284,840 km2
1,869 mi2 		0194,840 km2
1,869 mi2 		A004100%
Big Sandy Creek Arkansas River 0294,825 km2
1,863 mi2 		0204,825 km2
1,863 mi2 		A005100%
Bear Creek Bear Creek Basin 0304,500 km2
1,737 mi2 		0392,500 km2
965 mi2 		A04755.6%
North Fork Cimarron River Cimarron River 0314,462 km2
1,723 mi2 		0432,225 km2
859 mi2 		A04949.9%
Arikaree River[o] North Fork Republican River 0324,429 km2
1,710 mi2 		0234,265 km2
1,647 mi2 		A03296.3%
San Miguel River Dolores River 0334,060 km2
1,567 mi2 		0244,060 km2
1,567 mi2 		A006100%
Stinking Water Creek Frenchman Creek 0343,862 km2
1,491 mi2 		063966 km2
373 mi2 		A05825.0%
Roaring Fork River[p] upper Colorado River (Grand River) 0353,766 km2
1,454 mi2 		0253,766 km2
1,454 mi2 		A007100%
Crow Creek South Platte River 0363,717 km2
1,435 mi2 		0442,201 km2
850 mi2 		A04659.2%
Horse Creek Arkansas River 0373,680 km2
1,421 mi2 		0263,680 km2
1,421 mi2 		A008100%
Ladder Creek Smoky Hill River 0383,645 km2
1,407 mi2 		067663 km2
256 mi2 		A06218.2%
Bijou Creek South Platte River 0393,612 km2
1,395 mi2 		0273,612 km2
1,395 mi2 		A009100%
White Woman Basin endorheic basin 0403,577 km2
1,381 mi2 		065908 km2
351 mi2 		A05725.4%
Rush Creek Arkansas River 0413,570 km2
1,378 mi2 		0283,570 km2
1,378 mi2 		A010100%
Animas River San Juan River 0423,562 km2
1,375 mi2 		0302,971 km2
1,147 mi2 		A03983.4%
Saguache Creek San Luis Creek 0433,482 km2
1,345 mi2 		0293,482 km2
1,345 mi2 		A011100%
Montezuma Creek San Juan River 0443,044 km2
1,175 mi2 		062983 km2
380 mi2 		A05432.3%
White Woman Creek White Woman Basin 0453,000 km2
1,158 mi2 		066800 km2
309 mi2 		A05626.7%
Beaver Creek South Platte River 0462,939 km2
1,135 mi2 		0312,939 km2
1,135 mi2 		A012100%
Uncompahgre River Gunnison River 0472,921 km2
1,128 mi2 		0322,921 km2
1,128 mi2 		A013100%
Tomichi Creek Gunnison River 0482,874 km2
1,109 mi2 		0332,874 km2
1,109 mi2 		A014100%
Apishapa River[n] Arkansas River 0492,798 km2
1,080 mi2 		0342,798 km2
1,080 mi2 		A015100%
Saint Vrain Creek[q] South Platte River 0502,572 km2
993 mi2 		0352,572 km2
993 mi2 		A016100%
Eagle River upper Colorado River (Grand River) 0512,515 km2
971 mi2 		0382,515 km2
971 mi2 		A017100%
Vermillion Creek Green River 0522,500 km2
965 mi2 		0591,155 km2
446 mi2 		A05146.2%
North Fork Gunnison River Gunnison River 0532,492 km2
962 mi2 		0412,492 km2
962 mi2 		A018100%
Fountain Creek[r] Arkansas River 0542,418 km2
933 mi2 		0422,418 km2
933 mi2 		A019100%
Big Thompson River[m] South Platte River 0552,149 km2
830 mi2 		0452,149 km2
830 mi2 		A020100%
Two Butte Creek Arkansas River 0562,107 km2
814 mi2 		0462,107 km2
814 mi2 		A021100%
Mancos River San Juan River 0572,099 km2
810 mi2 		0471,973 km2
762 mi2 		A03394.0%
Conejos River Rio Grande 0582,078 km2
802 mi2 		0561,471 km2
568 mi2 		A04470.8%
North Fork Smoky Hill River Smoky Hill River 0591,965 km2
759 mi2 		064947 km2
366 mi2 		A05048.2%
Sidney Draw South Platte River 0601,949 km2
753 mi2 		070368 km2
142 mi2 		A06118.9%
South Fork Beaver Creek Beaver Creek 0611,939 km2
749 mi2 		068522 km2
201 mi2 		A05526.9%
Sand Arroyo Creek North Fork Cimarron River 0621,938 km2
748 mi2 		0571,314 km2
507 mi2 		A04567.8%
Chico Creek Arkansas River 0631,934 km2
747 mi2 		0481,934 km2
747 mi2 		A022100%
Kiowa Creek South Platte River 0641,888 km2
729 mi2 		0491,888 km2
729 mi2 		A023100%
Pawnee Creek South Platte River 0651,875 km2
724 mi2 		0501,875 km2
724 mi2 		A024100%
McElmo Creek San Juan River 0661,842 km2
711 mi2 		0531,654 km2
639 mi2 		A03589.8%
Blue River[s] upper Colorado River (Grand River) 0671,770 km2
683 mi2 		0511,770 km2
683 mi2 		A025100%
Piedra River San Juan River 0681,770 km2
683 mi2 		0521,770 km2
683 mi2 		A026100%
Piceance Creek White River 0691,630 km2
629 mi2 		0541,630 km2
629 mi2 		A027100%
Little Beaver Creek Beaver Creek 0701,602 km2
619 mi2 		072210 km2
81 mi2 		A06513.1%
Clear Creek[s] South Platte River 0711,497 km2
578 mi2 		0551,497 km2
578 mi2 		A028100%
Taylor River[p] Gunnison River 0721,258 km2
486 mi2 		0581,258 km2
486 mi2 		A029100%
Boulder Creek[4] Saint Vrain Creek 0731,160 km2
448 mi2 		0601,160 km2
448 mi2 		A030100%
Cherry Creek South Platte River 0731,050 km2
405 mi2 		0601,050 km2
405 mi2 		A030100%

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c The Colorado River did not officially flow through the State of Colorado until July 25, 1921. Prior to that date, the origin of the Colorado River was officially the confluence of the Grand and Green rivers at 38°11′21″N 109°53′09″W / 38.1892°N 109.8857°W / 38.1892; -109.8857 (Confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers) in what is now Canyonlands National Park of Utah. In 1921, U.S. Representative Edward T. Taylor of Colorado petitioned the Congressional Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to rename the Grand River as the Colorado River.[1] On July 25, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River,[2] over the objections of representatives from Wyoming, Utah, and the United States Geological Survey, who noted that the Green River was longer and had a larger drainage basin, although the Grand River often contributed a greater flow of water.
  2. ^ a b c The summit of Uncompahgre Peak at 14,321 feet (4365.0 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cimarron River, the Gunnison River, the former Grand River, the Colorado River, and the Gulf of California.
  3. ^ The summit of Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4401.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Arkansas River and the Mississippi River.
  4. ^ The summit of Blanca Peak at 14,351 feet (4374 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte).
  5. ^ The headwaters of the Green River are located in the Wind River Mountains of the State of Wyoming.
  6. ^ a b The summit of Clark Peak at 12,960 feet (3950 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Laramie River and the North Platte River.
  7. ^ The summit of Mount Lincoln at 14,293 feet (4356.5 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the South Platte River, the Platte River, and the Missouri River.
  8. ^ The headwaters of the Cimarron River are located in Union County, New Mexico, a short distance south of the Colorado border.
  9. ^ The Gunnison River Basin is the most extensive river basin exclusively within the State of Colorado.
  10. ^ The summit of Culebra Peak at 14,053 feet (4283 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of the Purgatoire River.
  11. ^ The San Luis Closed Basin is the most extensive endorheic basin in the State of Colorado.
  12. ^ The summit of Crestone Peak at 14,300 feet (4359 m) is the highest point in the San Luis Closed Basin.
  13. ^ a b The summit of Hagues Peak at 13,573 feet (4137 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Cache la Poudre River and the Big Thompson River.
  14. ^ a b The summit of West Spanish Peak at 13,631 feet (4155 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Huerfano River and Apishapa River.
  15. ^ The point at which the Arikaree River flows out of the Colorado and into Kansas is the lowest point in the State of Colorado at 3317 feet (1011 m).
  16. ^ a b The summit of Castle Peak at 14,279 feet (4352.2 m) is the highest point in the drainage basins of the Roaring Fork River and the Taylor River.
  17. ^ The summit of Longs Peak at 14,259 feet (4346 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Saint Vrain Creek.
  18. ^ The summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet (4302.31 m) is the highest point in the drainage basin of Fountain Creek.
  19. ^ a b The summit of Grays Peak at 14,278 feet (4352 m) is the highest point on the Continental Divide in North America and the drainage basins of the Blue River and Clear Creek.

References

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  1. ^ "Renaming the Grand River, Colo." (PDF), Hearing Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, Sixty Sixth Congress, Third Session, on HJ 460, Government Printing Office, February 18, 1921, retrieved May 16, 2023
  2. ^ "House Joint Resolution 32 - To change the name of the Grand River in Colorado and Utah to the Colorado River" (PDF). Congressional Record. Sixty-seventh United States Congress. July 25, 1921. p. 4274. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Gustafson, Daniel L. (2003-01-24). "Hydrologic Unit Project". Montana State University, Environmental Statistics Group. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  4. ^ Murphy, Sheila F. (2006). State of the watershed: Water quality of Boulder Creek, Colorado (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1284. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. ISBN 1-4113-0954-5. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)

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