Roaring Fork Conservancy

Outdoor watering is one of the biggest drivers of summer water use. By watering less often and more efficiently we can help keep more water in our rivers and streams this summer when they need it most.
Learn more at RoaringFork.org/drought/drought-response.

Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected today, and will continue through much of this upcoming week. This means fires will catch easily and spread rapidly! High-end fire weather conditions look possible on Tuesday due to stronger wind gusts, potentially around 30 to 45 mph, if not higher in some areas.

⚠️𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 ⚠️

"Today I am issuing a statewide drought emergency to support Coloradans, our economy, farmers and ranchers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the face of one of the most severe droughts in Colorado’s recorded history.

With every county in the state experiencing drought conditions, activating Phase 3 of our Drought Response Plan allows us to better coordinate agencies, prepare for worsening conditions, and support Colorado communities, agriculture, water users, and our environment. State agencies will do their part to reduce water usage at state facilities and I encourage every Coloradan to use water wisely." - Governor Polis

Today I am issuing a statewide drought emergency to support Coloradans, our economy, farmers and ranchers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the face of one of the most severe droughts in Colorado’s recorded history.

With every county in the state experiencing drought conditions, activating Phase 3 of our Drought Response Plan allows us to better coordinate agencies, prepare for worsening conditions, and support Colorado communities, agriculture, water users, and our environment. State agencies will do their part to reduce water usage at state facilities and I encourage every Coloradan to use water wisely.

⚠️𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 ⚠️

ORDWAY, Colo. – Grizzly Reservoir in Pitkin County will be drained for dam-maintenance construction after peak runoff and will be unavailable for public recreation this year. The Portal Campground and dispersed camping along Lincoln Creek Road will remain open.

Draining is expected to begin in mid-to-late June, with work completion estimated for late October, followed by refilling in accordance with the State-approved refill plan. The reservoir is expected to be available for public recreation in the 2027 summer season.

Grizzly Reservoir is owned and operated by the Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company as part of the Independence Pass Transmountain Diversion System. This year’s work is a continuation of the dam maintenance work started in 2024. Activities include construction of new dam outlet gates and completion of the waterproof liner to protect the steel face of the dam.

Construction traffic is expected on Lincoln Creek Road for the duration of the project and motorists travelling the road are advised to follow construction/traffic signage.

Based on lessons learned during the reservoir draining in 2024, the Twin Lakes Company has developed additional mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood, duration, and extent of any sediment discharges into Lincoln Creek and the Roaring Fork River during this year’s reservoir draining. Some sediment discharge and discoloration of the water in Lincoln Creek and further downstream is still possible. Any such events will be promptly communicated to Pitkin County, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

More information regarding the Portal campground can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/recreation/portal-campground

More information regarding dispersed camping on Lincoln Creek Road can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/recreation/lincoln-creek-dispersed-camping

𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘰 𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘜𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘗𝘶𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘗𝘶𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘈𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.

City of Aspen Government U.S. Forest Service - White River National Forest Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Pitkin County Government

"Some day in the next 12 months – maybe in late-August, maybe not until next spring – Lake Mead will drop below the critical threshold of 1,035 feet above sea level.

That is the water-level elevation at which hydropower generating capacity at Hoover Dam, the largest in the Colorado River basin, will be cut by 70 percent. The drastic and immediate reduction in a cheap source of power that is responsive to hourly changes in electricity demand will have consequences for the region’s power customers and the broader electric grid alike.

Water managers have known for at least a year and a half that elevation 1,035 feet will be a problem for Hoover’s hydropower. Twelve of the dam’s 17 turbines are not designed to operate in low-water conditions that would be present when Mead is below that level. After record-low winter runoff into already-depleted reservoirs, water managers now know that the day of reckoning is coming soon.

“We’re going to go to 1,035,” Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said at a meeting in mid-May. “There’s no question that’s going to happen.”

Hoover Dam Approaches a Hydropower Cliff Explore the critical threshold for hydropower at Hoover Dam as Lake Mead's water levels approach a significant drop.

💦 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 💦

Rivers in the Roaring Fork Watershed continue to flow below average at 21-62% of normal for this time of year. With all nine local SNOTEL sites out of measureable snowpack, stream flows are beginning to decrease at a time of year when they’re typically rising towards peak. Long-term drought impacts such as increased wildfire risk, low flows, and water shortages are front-of-mind in the midst of this historically poor runoff season. As such, the National Interagency Fire Center is forecasting an above average wildfire season across Western Colorado. Starting today, we will include weekly high water temperature (WHT) measurements from the USGS gauges at the Roaring Fork River in Glenwood and Emma. Water temperatures are already tracking well above average across the watershed. Anglers, if you don’t already own one, now is the time to secure thermometers as we approach summer.

We thank our friends at Schindler Ferguson Law Firm for supporting our River Reports.

Take a gentle float through important wildlife habitat in North Star Nature Preserve with Roaring Fork Conservancy, Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, and Blazing Adventures. We’ll share the history of North Star, discuss wildlife highlights and restoration activities during this float.

Register soon as floats are limited to 10 participants, and are appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Learn more and register at https://www.roaringfork.org/events/.

Making plans for this weekend? How about going fishing! Fishing license requirements are waived for this weekend only. Get all the details below.

FREE FISHING WEEKEND COMING UP 🎣

On June 6-7, 2026, anyone can fish for free, and the fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirements are waived: https://cpw.info/4u6rbdn

Observed every June, National Rivers Month celebrates the critical importance of our waterways.

Enjoy our local rivers this month by joining us on a float through North Star Nature Preserve with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails or sign-up your 5th-8th grader in our Youth Fly Fishing Clinic.

Learn more about our beautiful rivers at https://www.roaringfork.org/

☑ Have your children asked to fly fish?
☑ Would you like to take them but don't know where to start and/or maybe you don't have the gear?
☑ Is your child in 5th to 8th grade?

The June 15-17 beginner Youth Fly Fishing Clinic offered by Roaring Fork Conservancy and Taylor Creek Fly Shops checks all those boxes!

Young anglers will learn all the skills - from rigging a rod and reel, casting, aquatic insect ID, proper fish handling, knot tying, fishing and more - and, we have all the gear! Young anglers just show up with sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks and water.

Learn more and register your child at https://www.roaringfork.org/events/youth-beginner-fly-fishing-clinic-june-15-17/

But hurry, only 3 spots remain!

𝘗.𝘚. 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘴! 🎣