Rivers in the Roaring Fork Watershed are currently flowing 40-65% of normal for this time of year.  Fall was ushered in with rain and a dusting of snow in the high country. Despite increased precipitation over the last few weeks, the watershed remains in exceptional and extreme drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.  There is one week left of the 2026 Water Year, and it will likely be recorded as the hottest on record. This water year, which runs October 1-September 30, broke records for the lowest snowpack, and the warmest meteorological winter, spring, and summer on record. Contract releases from Ruedi Reservoir continue to provide water dedicated to the Grand Valley irrigators. Those releases will gradually decrease as irrigation season comes to a close in the next few weeks.  Whether angling, hiking, biking, or hunting, enjoy the beauty of the fall colors on display in the mountains.