2025 Uncompahgre River Peak Flow above Ridgway Reservoir recorded on June 3

Winners of Uncompahgre River Classic peak flow prediction contest announced

As the flow in the Uncompahgre River has hovered between lows of 150 and 250 cubic feet per second (cfs) during July, the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership announced the winners of the 2025 Uncompahgre River Classic peak flow prediction contest. This year, the river’s peak flow was at three different times on June 3, at 3:15, 3:45 and 4 a.m. when it reached 1,020 cfs.

Megan McConville of Denver, Colo., won first place in the fifth annual Classic with a prediction of June 2 at 4:15 p.m. She won a prize package donated by Patagonia consisting of a Black Hole Backpack, trucker hat, and “A Changemaker’s Guide: Tools to Save Our Home Planet” book. Dan Broman won second place with his prediction of June 5 at 2 p.m., and Denshka Neill won third place with her prediction June 12 at 11:45 a.m. Both winners will receive Ridgway RiverFest hats as their prizes.

Contest entrants could also guess the cubic feet per second that would be recorded as the peak flow, in case they tied for first through third place with their date/time guesses.  Brian Mueller won an honorable mention for guessing 1,000 cfs – only 20 cfs off from the actual peak flow, winning a Ouray hat from Mountain Fever Shirts & Gifts. Classic winners will be awarded at the Uncompahgre Rubber Ducky Race on July 24 at 5 p.m. at Rollans Park in Ridgway.

The 2025 peak flow of the Uncompahgre River as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey stream gauge between Ridgway and the Ridgway Reservoir (gauge 09146200) was in the river’s most frequent peak flow date range, which is between June 1 and 7. Last year, the peak flow was 360 cfs higher at 1,380 cfs, and occurred on June 28 due to unusually strong rain. Compared to peak flows over the past 10 years, this year’s peak flow was fairly average, being lower than five years and higher than four years.

The Classic is a streamflow awareness campaign organized by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) as part of its educational activities aimed at fostering community understanding about watershed conditions and health. The nonprofit based in Ouray County has a mission of at protecting and improving the natural, scenic and economic values of the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed, from the headwaters in the San Juan Mountains to the northern Ouray County line.

UWP works with a wide range of government and private partners and funders to foster watershed health. Current projects include the ongoing Colorado River Watch program, where volunteers sample water in local rivers monthly and provide important data to scientists and government agencies. The South Ouray Erosion Control Project at Ouray Ice Park aims to remediate a slope to reduce ongoing erosion, improve recreation infrastructure, and reduce water quality degradation in the Uncompahgre River.

A mine site remediation project, initiated by UWP in the stunning Governor Basin high above Ouray, has a goal of reducing erosion and water movement on historic mine tailings to prevent metals from leaching into our waterways. Alongside Red Mountain Creek in Ironton Park are high alpine wetlands known as fens where UWP is planning to restore flora and fauna and natural floodplain abilities to better preserve the valuable area in the Uncompahgre headwaters. 

To help support UWP’s projects, awareness campaigns, and ongoing nonprofit operations, please consider any one-time donation amount, a membership, or an ongoing monthly or annual donation.

UWP is also raising money through the Uncompahgre Rubber Ducky Race. Race entries can be purchased through midnight on July 23, 2025.