Weekly Snowpack Report
February 5, 2026 -
Summary:
Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is well below average at 57% of normal for this time of year. Typically, snowpack and SWE would be continuously increasing this time of year. But with dry and warm conditions persisting, new historic daily minimums for SWE in the Roaring Fork Watershed were reached the last 15 of 18 days (since data records began in 1986). Current SWE is tracking 0.9 inches lower than the last snow-drought year (2018). Releases from Ruedi Reservoir decreased by 15 cfs on Monday bringing flows on the lower Fryingpan River to 41 cfs. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, forecasting models are currently showing that Ruedi Reservoir will not fill this summer.
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.
Winter Ecological Flow Releases to begin December 22
Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) has partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Town of Basalt, Basalt Water Conservancy District, and Colorado Water Conservation Board to increase winter flows on the lower Fryingpan River to minimize formation and mitigate impacts of anchor ice, a supercooled ice that forms on the bottom of streams, on aquatic life.
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