ARKANSAS RIVER AT MOFFAT STREET AT PUEBLO, CO

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

From USGS 07099969 (ARKANSAS R. AT ST CHARLES MESA DIVER. AT PUEBLO,CO), on the same river at the same spot; this gauge does not measure water temperature.

• Under CPW's 71°F line. Water 59.5°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 61.2°F. That is under the 71°F CPW uses for its closure criteria. “CPW recommends fishing early in the day to avoid peak afternoon temperatures.” “Anglers should use a handheld thermometer to test water conditions and move to cooler, higher-elevation waters once temperatures approach 71 degrees.”

  CPW implements additional voluntary fishing closures on four Western Slope rivers (16 July 2026) (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Species

This gauge is on our page for Arkansas River, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

• Flow above the record for this date. Higher than any daily mean USGS has recorded on this date at this gauge. Expect much higher, faster water than usual for the season.

  hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) Statistics documentation (percentiles of daily mean discharge) (U.S. Geological Survey)

• Cold water. Water 59.5°F. NWS: “Cold shock can be just as severe and dangerous from water temperatures of 50-60°F (10-15°C) as it is from water at 35°F (2°C).” “Always wear a life jacket in and around the water.”

  Cold Water Hazards and Safety (National Weather Service)

• Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.

  Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)