Colorado Basin Roundtable

08/10/2026

Check out this excellent article on the current state of Blue Mesa Reservoir by Shannon Mullane in The Colorado Sun. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/07/blue-mesa-largest-reservoir-colorado-quarter-full-official-actions/

08/03/2026

Ruedi Reservoir boat ramp closing Aug. 4 at 8 pm due to low water and mud.

Ruedi Reservoir Boat Ramp is scheduled for closure tomorrow, Aug. 4, at 8 pm due to low water and mud issues at the ramp. The USFS will allow boats to come off the lake until Wednesday 8/5 at noon.

There is approximately 18 feet of concrete ramp remaining at the current reservoir level that is covered with mud. The drought conditions, mud, and need for water to be released from the reservoir to fill downstream water rights will make the ramp unusable as the reservoir continues to drop.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will cease to inspect boats for Aquatic Nuisance Species at the Ruedi Boat Ramp once the gates are locked and launching is prohibited. As a reminder, motorized watercraft are prohibited from launching on Ruedi Reservoir without a certified Aquatic Nuisance Species inspection.

Hand launched watercraft such as kayaks, paddle boards, or canoes are still allowed to launch from Ruedi Day Use area. To help prevent the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species. please be responsible by cleaning, draining and drying hand launched watercraft between waterbodies.

The boat launch gates will remain locked throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.

08/01/2026

New from the Colorado Sun: Downstream states are facing big water cuts while Colorado is on call for more conservation in the new reports. The negotiations don’t stop here. Read it here: https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/31/colorado-river-breakdown-management-plan-federal-report/

07/30/2026

Residents and anglers can expect to see high flows in the Fryingpan River in the month of August as water managers increase releases out of Ruedi Reservoir in an attempt to relieve the worst drought conditions downstream. ⬇️

07/21/2026

Watering less this summer is essential to share a limited resource and protect our rivers. Northern Water is falling short of their 20% reduction goal, but Aurora Wster is seeing a good response. Water from the Western Slope including the Colorado River supplements water supplies on the Front Range.

Denver Water consumers are not saving even close to the 20% of summer use the agency said it needed to preserve reservoirs in 2026.

07/21/2026

"ATTENTION UPPER COLORADO RIVER USERS!
The river is currently UNSAFE and UNNAVIGABLE at the Red Dirt Bridge, between Pinball and Horse Creek
Due to a short but intense rainstorm, the Colorado River had two significant debris flows which have altered the river.
The first was a major blowout at Jack Flats which put tremendous amount of woody debris in the river.
The second major trouble spot at the Red Dirt was caused by all the wood coming down from Jack Flats, plus additional flows from the Posey Creek drainage.
These high flows carried off a very stout bridge which spanned the creek. That bridge is now blocking most of the right channel.
As if that's not bad enough, there were two ATVs on the bridge before it washed into the middle of the river. One is still strapped to the bridge and upside down in the river.
The other is upright and dry and ready to roll.
Jack Flats is almost unrecognizable. The only thing that can clean it up is a big runoff, and we're at least two great winters away from that.
There is one bright spot however. The "Lower Upper" Colorado River has a new rapid. It was created by the immense flow of rocks, trees, and mud that poured into the drainage above Jack Flats.
There's now a huge alluvial fan which cut the width of the river channel in half.
There's now a big long wave train which looks like it will be very fun to ride.
Since I was the first person to see it, I'm claim naming rights, and christen it the "Jack Flats Wave".

From Jack Bombardier

07/20/2026

Low flows and warm water leads to CPW requesting voluntary fishing closures for anglers. Fish are stressed by the higher water temps; this is a good time to let them rest.

Due to extremely low flows and high water temperatures, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has implemented voluntary fishing closures on the Roaring Fork, Crystal, Colorado and Eagle Rivers.

07/20/2026

Help keep Colorado rivers clean. Aug. 1 is your chance to volunteer in Glenwood Springs to do a morning cleanup of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River confluence region and then join other volunteers to celebrate in the afternoon at Two Rivers Park. RiverFest volunteer sign ups are happening now!

Join our community in cleaning up the two rivers in our town, demonstrating environmental stewardship for the betterment of our rivers.

07/17/2026

Water less this summer and help our rivers.

The Roaring Fork Watershed connects all of us. Every household that follows the watering schedule this summer is part of something larger than a single lawn or street.

Small changes, multiplied across thousands of homes, add up to real protection for our rivers when they need it most.

Learn more: roaringfork.org/drought/drought-response

07/15/2026

"As of July 12, Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison sat only 32% full at 266,000 acre feet of storage water — about 35,000 acre feet less than the historic minimum for that date, down 35%.

Severe drought conditions at the reservoir have resulted in critically low storage levels, a limitation on water allocation to the Uncompahgre Valley and its agricultural water users, limited flows for releasing endangered fish species, decreased recreational opportunities on the water that go hand-in-hand with a downturn in the regional recreational economy, and uncertainty over power generation and water usage in the near future." More here => https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/blue-mesa-reservoir-in-crisis-amid-historic-drought-causing-downstream-impacts/article_316c32ef-4d1f-4ba1-ab42-64a68996df16.html

If you’re a farmer or rancher in the Montrose area, you’ve found yourself having to make do with less water than usual. That means fewer crops than usual. You’ve also