Eagle River (Colorado)

The Eagle River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 60.5 miles (97.4 km) long,[2] in west central Colorado in the United States.

Eagle River[1]
The river at Eagle's Chambers Park
Eagle River drainage basin
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of East Fork and South Fork
 • coordinates39°25′18″N 107°03′26″W / 39.42167°N 107.05722°W / 39.42167; -107.05722
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with Colorado River
 • coordinates
39°38′47″N 107°03′26″W / 39.64639°N 107.05722°W / 39.64639; -107.05722
 • elevation
6,122 ft (1,866 m)
Length60.5 mi (97.4 km)[2]
Basin size945 sq mi (2,450 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • average577 cu ft/s (16.3 m3/s)[3]
Basin features
ProgressionColorado

It rises in southeastern Eagle County, at the continental divide, and flows northwest past Gilman, Minturn, Avon. Near Wolcott, it turns west, flowing past Eagle and Gypsum, and joins the Colorado at Dotsero, in western Eagle County.

Its flow ranges from 200 cu ft/s (5.7 m3/s) in late summer of dry years to 7,000 cu ft/s (200 m3/s) during spring runoff.

Acid mine drainage from the abandoned Eagle Mine has entered the river.[4]

The Eagle River valley from I-70, showing Edwards, Colorado

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eagle River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 18, 2011
  3. ^ a b "USGS Gage #09070000 on the Eagle River below Gypsum, CO" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1946–2011. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  4. ^ "Eagle Mine – Region 8". United States Environmental Protection Agency. April 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.