Cutaway illustration of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry with a USGS streamgage station on the bank, satellite beaming its 15-minute stage readings skyward, and a labeled rating curve floating beside the channel

River Gauges: The Boxes That Watch the Colorado River

How USGS streamgages, sediment sensors, sandbar cameras, and flood alerts track the dam-controlled Colorado River.

September 23, 2026 · 7 min · 1421 words · Justin