Upper Colorado water resource region facts for kids
The Upper Colorado water resource region is a big area of land in the western United States. It's one of 21 main areas that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) uses to study water. Think of it like dividing a big map into smaller sections to understand how water flows.
These areas, called water regions, usually include all the land where water drains into a major river. Or, they might include several rivers that flow together. The Upper Colorado region is special because it's where the famous Colorado River starts and flows for a long way.
This region has a special code, 14, and it's huge! It covers about 113,347 square miles (293,540 km2). It's made up of 8 smaller parts, called subregions, each with its own code from 1401 to 1408.
The Upper Colorado region includes:
- The area where the Colorado River and its branches flow, especially the part above a spot called Lee Ferry.
- A special area called the Great Divide closed basin, where water doesn't flow out to the ocean.
This important water region stretches across parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
What is a Water Resource Region?
Imagine all the rain and snow that falls on land. It eventually flows into streams, rivers, and lakes. A water resource region is like a giant bowl that catches all this water. It includes all the land that drains into a specific river system. Scientists use these regions to manage water and understand how it moves across the country.
Exploring the Upper Colorado Subregions
The Upper Colorado water region is divided into 8 smaller parts, each with its own unique features. These subregions help scientists study and manage the water more closely. Here’s a look at each one:
| Subregion Code | Subregion Name | What it Includes | States Covered | Size | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1401 | Colorado Headwaters | This is where the Colorado River begins. It includes the river basin before the Bitter Creek Basin and the Gunnison River Basin. | Colorado and Utah. | 9,730 sq mi (25,200 km2) |  |
| 1402 | Gunnison | This subregion covers the entire area drained by the Gunnison River. | Colorado | 7,930 sq mi (20,500 km2) |  |
| 1403 | Upper Colorado–Dolores | This part of the Colorado River Basin starts from the Bitter Creek Basin and goes down to where it meets the Green River Basin. | Colorado and Utah. | 8,250 sq mi (21,400 km2) |  |
| 1404 | Great Divide – Upper Green | This subregion includes the Green River Basin before it meets the Yampa River. It also has the Great Divide closed basin. | Utah and Wyoming. | 20,600 sq mi (53,000 km2) |  |
| 1405 | White–Yampa | This area covers the basins of both the White River and the Yampa River. | Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. | 13,100 sq mi (34,000 km2) |  |
| 1406 | Lower Green | This part of the Green River Basin is below where it meets the Yampa River, but it doesn't include the Yampa and White River areas. | Colorado and Utah. | 14,400 sq mi (37,000 km2) |  |
| 1407 | Upper Colorado–Dirty Devil | This section of the Colorado River Basin is found after it joins the Green River, stretching down to the Lee Ferry point, but not including the San Juan River Basin. | Arizona and Utah. | 13,500 sq mi (35,000 km2) |  |
| 1408 | San Juan | This subregion is all about the San Juan River Basin. | Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. | 24,600 sq mi (64,000 km2) |  |
