ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR ROCKY FORD, CO.
USGS 07120500 · Colorado · reports water temperature, specific conductance
USGS 07120500 · Colorado · reports water temperature, specific conductance
What the agencies suggest
Anglers should use a handheld thermometer to test water conditionsColorado Parks and Wildlife
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:15 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Below NWS action stage
No flow at this gauge. USGS does not publish discharge here, so there are no flow statistics either; it reports what is shown. Flow on the same river: ARKANSAS RIVER AT LAS ANIMAS, CO. (USGS 07124000, 25.4 miles away).
Water temperature, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM MDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM MST; ranging 47.1 to 63.1 °F; latest 54.9 °F.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Water temperature (°F) |
|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:15 PM MST | 54.9 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM MST | 55.4 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM MST | 55.9 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM MST | 56.5 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM MST | 56.8 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM MST | 57.2 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM MST | 57.2 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM MST | 56.7 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM MST | 55.6 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM MST | 54.3 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM MST | 52.7 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM MST | 51.8 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM MST | 51.3 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM MST | 51.3 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM MST | 51.3 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM MST | 51.4 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM MST | 51.6 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM MST | 51.8 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM MST | 52.2 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM MST | 52.2 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM MST | 52.5 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM MST | 53.1 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM MST | 53.6 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM MST | 54 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM MST | 55 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM MST | 55.8 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM MST | 56.5 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM MST | 57.4 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM MST | 58.1 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM MST | 58.3 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM MST | 57.9 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM MST | 56.8 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM MST | 55 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM MST | 52.7 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM MST | 50.2 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM MST | 48.9 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM MST | 47.5 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM MST | 47.1 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM MST | 47.5 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM MST | 48.2 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM MST | 48.6 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM MST | 49.3 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM MST | 49.8 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM MST | 50.4 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM MST | 51.1 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM MST | 51.3 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM MST | 52 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM MST | 52.9 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM MST | 53.8 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM MST | 54.9 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM MST | 55.6 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM MST | 56.7 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM MST | 57.2 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM MST | 57.6 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM MST | 57.2 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM MST | 56.5 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM MST | 55.2 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM MST | 53.2 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM MST | 51.6 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM MST | 49.8 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM MST | 48.6 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM MST | 48.2 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM MST | 48.4 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM MST | 48.6 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM MST | 48.7 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM MST | 48.9 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM MST | 49.3 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM MST | 49.5 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM MST | 49.8 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM MST | 50.4 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM MST | 50.9 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM MST | 51.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM MST | 52.3 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM MST | 53.1 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM MST | 53.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM MST | 54.1 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM MST | 54.5 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM MST | 54.9 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM MST | 55.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM MST | 56.3 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM MST | 56.7 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM MST | 56.5 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM MST | 56.3 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM MST | 55.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM MST | 55.2 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM MST | 54 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM MST | 54.3 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM MST | 54.9 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM MST | 55.4 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM MST | 56.1 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM MST | 56.7 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM MST | 57.4 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM MST | 57.9 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM MST | 58.6 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM MST | 59.2 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM MST | 59.9 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM MST | 60.4 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM MST | 61 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM MST | 61.3 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM MST | 61.7 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM MST | 62.1 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM MST | 61.9 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM MST | 61.3 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM MST | 60.3 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM MST | 59 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM MST | 57.9 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM MST | 57.6 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM MST | 57.6 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM MST | 57.4 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM MST | 57.6 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM MST | 57.7 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM MST | 57.9 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM MST | 57.9 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM MST | 58.1 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM MST | 58.3 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MST | 58.3 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MDT | 58.3 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM MDT | 58.6 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM MDT | 59 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM MDT | 59.9 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM MDT | 60.4 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM MDT | 61 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM MDT | 61.9 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM MDT | 62.6 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM MDT | 63.1 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM MDT | 63.1 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM MDT | 62.6 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM MDT | 61 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM MDT | 60.3 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM MDT | 59 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM MDT | 57.6 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM MDT | 56.5 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM MDT | 56.1 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM MDT | 56.1 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM MDT | 56.1 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM MDT | 56.5 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM MDT | 56.5 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM MDT | 57.2 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM MDT | 57.6 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM MDT | 57.9 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM MDT | 58.5 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM MDT | 58.8 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM MDT | 59.4 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM MDT | 60.1 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM MDT | 60.3 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM MDT | 60.1 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM MDT | 59.9 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM MDT | 59 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM MDT | 58.1 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM MDT | 57.2 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM MDT | 56.5 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM MDT | 56.3 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM MDT | 56.5 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM MDT | 56.7 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM MDT | 57 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM MDT | 56.8 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM MDT | 57 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM MDT | 57.2 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM MDT | 57.6 |
Map of USGS gauge 07120500 and the river around it
Where ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR ROCKY FORD, CO. sits, with 2 other gauges on the same river and our water's map point.
Under CPW's 71°F line. Water 54.9°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 57.2°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.”
This gauge is on the same river as our page for Arkansas River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Cold water. Water 54.9°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)Specific conductance 1,130 µS/cm at Nov 5, 8:15 PM MST; 7-day range 946–1,550 µS/cm
Dissolved ions: Specific conductance rises with the ions dissolved in the water. No fishing threshold is published for it; compare with this gauge's own recent readings.
Conductivity (Electrical Conductance) and Water (U.S. Geological Survey)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 2.3 ft stage, 380 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:15 PM MST (NWS gauge ARCC2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 6:48 AM MST. Highest point: 2.2 ft, 329 ft³/s on Nov 6, 11:00 AM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 2 ft | 242 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 2.2 ft | 329 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 2 ft | 242 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 1.9 ft | 205 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 1.9 ft | 205 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 1.9 ft | 205 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:09 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.