Ruedi Reservoir Releases and Fryingpan Flows in August

In the midst of historically low stream flows throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed and the state, the lower Fryingpan River reached a high of 512 cfs in August. Why is that, you might ask?

According to the Bureau of Reclamation, “Reclamation built Ruedi Dam and Reservoir as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. The project provides water for beneficial use to Colorado water users from the Kansas to the Utah borders. One of the reservoir's purposes is to compensate Colorado River Basin water users for the diversion of Colorado River Basin water to the Arkansas River Basin in southeastern Colorado. The reservoir releases stored water for multiple West Slope beneficial uses including irrigation, domestic and municipal water supply, industrial, and environmental purposes. A portion of the reservoir stored water is reserved for fish and wildlife enhancement.”

Now, back to August 2026: Due to unprecedented drought conditions, historically low regional river flows, and dwindling storage in other reservoirs, unusually high releases out of Ruedi were used towards satisfying the Colorado River Basin Emergency Substitute Water Supply Plan to protect legal water availability for municipal and domestic users and support irrigators throughout the basin including senior water rights in the Grand Valley and to support aquatic conditions in the Fryingpan, Roaring Fork, and Colorado rivers. Contract water held by the Colorado River District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Water Trust, and Ute Water Conservancy District allowed Grand Valley irrigation to continue when all other sources of stored water were exhausted. Regional agricultural production, recreation, and downstream aquatic habitat benefited – for example, daily water temperature highs on the Roaring Fork River in Emma dropped about 7^oF following initial increases. Flows on the lower Fryingpan decreased significantly last week with the lower Fryingpan River flowing 69 cfs by September 3.

  Thirsting for a Future, a new 30-minute documentary produced by award-winning filmmaker Christi Bode, offers a compelling look at the state of K-12 climate and water education across Colorado, investigating how school districts, non-profit partners, and local communities prepare young people to face pressing environmental realities including drought, wildfires, and shifting water security.  It also features Roaring Fork Conservancy's Watershed Pen Pal program. 

This screening and post-film forum are free thanks to support from Aspen Community Foundation.  

Seating is limited. 

Reserve your seat at https://www.wildroseeducation.com/event-details-registration/thirsting-for-a-future.

When we turn the tap on, water appears instantaneously, almost like magic... Come and learn firsthand how water is delivered to Snowmass Village, a high alpine town spanning 1,500 vertical feet. Trace the path of water from mountain streams to the taps of 3,000 people - that expands five-fold in peak season! 

Tour with staff from Snowmass Water and Sanitation District and Roaring Fork Conservancy and gain an appreciation for the unique challenges of delivering water fresh to our taps and cleaning wastewater to industry-leading standards. We’ll also tour the beautiful Ziegler Reservoir, an important storage area with environmental benefits.

oin Roaring Fork Conservancy and Pitkin County Open Space & Trails for a rare, autumn, afternoon walk to enjoy the unique and beautiful Filoha Meadows before its seasonal closure. Thermal hot springs, bighorn sheep, important elk habitat, a local bat population, healthy riparian habitat, and beaver ponds are only a few of Filoha’s distinctive attributes. Wear your hiking boots and bring binoculars and a camera as we enjoy fall at Filoha.

Please note: We access Filoha Meadows from a different location than previous years (prior to 2020), and this includes a longer hike of about 2-miles roundtrip.

REGISTER FOR THE FILOHA AFTERNOON WALK HERE.

Have You Seen an Otter?

	Double your Impact with a Company Match By taking advantage of a company's matching gift benefit, you may be able to double or even triple the amount of your contribution. Ask your HR department today and notify RFC by emailing phoebe@roaringfork.org.

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