Winter Storm Watch
2026-01-09T11:00:00-07:00

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches possible, with localized higher amounts. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Palmer Divide. * WHEN...From Thursday morning through Friday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes.


Uncompahgre River River Levels

Last Updated: January 7, 2026

The Uncompahgre River is a 75-mile-long waterway in southwestern Colorado, originating in the San Juan Mountains and flowing into the Gunnison River.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Uncompahgre River was last observed at 364 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 723 acre-ft of water today; about 127% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 288 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-07-02 when daily discharge volume was observed at 5,613 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Uncompahgre River At Delta reporting a streamflow rate of 187 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Uncompahgre River At Colona with a gauge stage of 3.5 ft. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Uncompahgre River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 7,592 ft, the Uncompahgre River Near Ouray.

River Details

Last Updated 2026-01-07
Discharge Volume 723 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 364.4 cfs
-1.4 cfs (-0.38%)
Percent of Normal 126.65%
Maximum 5,613.0 cfs
2019-07-02
Seasonal Avg 288 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Uncompahgre River Near Ouray
USGS 09146020
29 cfs 0.62 ft -2.67
Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway
USGS 09146200
41 cfs 1.82 ft 2.73
Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir
USGS 09147025
51 cfs 1.85 ft 0
Uncompahgre River At Colona
USGS 09147500
56 cfs 3.5 ft 2.39
Uncompahgre River At Delta
USGS 09149500
187 cfs 2.96 ft -1.58
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Uncompahgre River is a tributary of the Gunnison River, approximately 75 mi (121 km) long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States. Lake Como at 12,215 ft (3723m) in northern San Juan County, in the Uncompahgre National Forest in the northwestern San Juan Mountains is the headwaters of the river. It flows northwest past Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, and Olathe and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in Delta.
The river forms Poughkeepsie Gulch and the Uncompahgre Gorge. The major tributaries are all creeks draining the northwest San Juan Mountains.
There are two dams on the Uncompahgre River, a small diversion dam in the Uncompahgre Gorge, and Ridgway Dam below the town of Ridgway which forms Ridgway Reservoir.
The river is used for irrigation in the Uncompahgre Valley. Additionally, water from the Gunnison is diverted to the valley via the Gunnison Tunnel. The Uncompahgre is unnavigable except at high water.
The name Uncompahgre ( (listen)) comes from the Ute word Uncompaghre, which loosely translates to "dirty water," "red lake," or "red water spring" and is likely a reference to the many hot springs in the vicinity of Ouray.