Weekly River Report
November 5, 2026
Summary:
Wednesday night’s storm system brought the first low elevation snowfall of the season. Snow totals in the high country are currently: 13” at Independence Pass (Roaring Fork headwaters), 18” at Schofield Pass (Crystal headwaters), and 14” at Ivanhoe (Fryingpan headwaters). Rivers in the Roaring Fork Watershed are currently flowing 85-245% of normal for this time of year. Several weeks of precipitation have finally improved drought conditions in the Roaring Fork Watershed, except for eastern Pitkin County and some of southeastern Eagle County (see map below). Soil moisture, a key factor for spring snowmelt efficiency, improved at both shallow and mid-depths in the last month, but deficiencies remain in the eastern part of the watershed. Join us on November 10 in Basalt as Colorado River District’s Brendon Langenhuizen presents How Ruedi Reservoir Helped Colorado River Users Through 2026 Dry Conditions. Event details at www.roaringfork.org/events.
Calling All River Users to Protect Waterways from New Threats
It is time for every water user to take seriously their role in being a river steward. After you fish, boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY all your gear. Every time. Yes, really, every time.