Rivers and streams in the Roaring Fork Watershed are flowing 57-100% of normal for this time of year. Despite steady flows upstream, the Crystal River at the fish hatchery has increased from 48 cfs to 74 cfs in the past two weeks, likely due to less water being diverted from streams for agricultural production. Most irrigation ditches across the watershed will be shut off by the end of October. Releases from Ruedi Reservoir decreased by 15 cfs this past Friday, bringing flows on the lower Fryingpan River to 123 cfs. This flow change is due to decreasing contract obligations and inflows. Reminder: the City of Aspen will shut down the Ruedi hydropower plant from November 4-15 for annual maintenance. Releases from Ruedi will be rerouted into the Fryingpan River, meaning the area immediately downstream of the dam - the popular “toilet bowl” - will not be fishable during that time.

Stream flow, diversion and reservoir data acquired from U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Roaring Fork Watershed stream gages: www.roaringfork.org/your-watershed/river-flow/

Colorado drought conditions: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu