Predict the peak flow of the Uncompahgre River from runoff from snowmelt and earn the admiration of your friends and family (as well as winning great prizes: River Watercolor Painting by Ridgway Artist Meredith Nemirov, Patagonia Black Hole Backpack, and trucker hats from outdoor brands.
People may make one entry from March 15 to May 1. Predictions of peak flow primarily from runoff are accepted for dates between May 1 and July 30. The contest winner is the person who predicts the date and time closest to the actual peak flow. While people can guess how many cubic feet per second that the peak flow will be, that number is only used as a tie breaker if two people guess equally close to the correct date and time.
Each year, the Uncompahgre River flows, just above the Ridgway Reservoir, typically range from less than 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) to just above or below 1,000 cfs. In the past five years, the peak flow reached as high as 1,380 cfs in 2024 and as low as 619 cfs in 2022. The peak flow (largest amount) generally happens between mid-May and mid-June but can be earlier or later, depending on snowpack and weather.
Top image: Data from stream gauge between Ridgway and Ridgway Reservoir for March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2026.
