Each spring, the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) strives to raise awareness about the importance of understanding streamflows and peak flows through an annual contest – the Uncompahgre River Classic. You can learn through the Classic updates about how important river flows are to our watershed. Plus, you can enter the contest with your prediction of the date and time that the Uncompahgre River above the Ridgway Reservoir will hit its peak flow this May and June to win great prizes!
- One FREE entry per person!
- Entry Period: March 15 to May 1, 2026
- The winner of the Uncompahgre River Classic will be announced on June 27.
- Only people who are 13 years old and up may enter, but we encourage families to make predictions together with their children.
- See full guidelines at the bottom of this page.
What do you know about streamflows and the peak flow of the Uncompahgre River?
The staff and board of UWP hope you will take this opportunity learn more about the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed by checking out our streamflow blog posts, where you can read about how and why monitoring streamflows and annual peak flows are important. See past streamflow blog posts.
- For resources of streamflow data in the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed, check out this watershed page.
- You can also check out information about the 2025 peak flow, 2024 peak flow*, 2023 peak flow, 2022 peak flow, and the 2021 peak flow.
*The peak flow from runoff from snowpack combined with a storm event happened in late June in 2024, but a major storm event later summer actually created a larger peak flow on Aug. 16. (The Uncompahgre River Classic picks winners based on the peak flow from runoff, which can only happen before August.)
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2026 Prizes
1st Prize: Original Watercolor Painting by Ridgway Artist Meredith Nemirov,
15″ x 18.5″ matted (not framed) = $650 value!
2nd Prize: Patagonia Black Hole Teal 32L Backpack = $169 value
3rd, 4th & 5th Prizes: Trucker hats from outdoor brands = $35 each
Please consider donating to UWP to help support the creation of this contest and the streamflow information campaign that goes along with it. You can donate by clicking on the water droplet on the right margin of this page (or at the link in your entry confirmation email)! We recommend $10 to $20 but any amount is appreciated! Thank you.
2026 Uncompahgre River Classic OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM
If you do not see an email confirmation in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If a confirmation is not there, your entry was not submitted successfully. Typically, the issue is accidentally not entering required information or not adequately clicking on the submit button. You may retry your entry or email Tanya at tanya@uncompahgrewatershed.org for help.
Note: If your entry is successfully submitted, you will get an email confirmation from Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership with a record of your prediction(s) and contact information.
RULES & GUIDELINES
Price: One FREE entry per person. Donations are much appreciated to help support UWP’s education activities about streamflow science.
Guess/Entry Purchase Period: March 15 through May 1, 2026
Peak Flow Predictions: Entrants must predict the date and the time of the Uncompahgre River’s peak flow from spring runoff between April 15 (12:00 a.m.) through June 26 (11:45 p.m.), 2026. Predictions will be in increments of 15 minutes i.e. 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, and 12:45.
Winner Announcement: June 27, 2026. You do not have to be present to win. Winners will also be notified by email and phone.
Peak Flow Determination: The correct prediction will be based on the peak flow of the Uncompahgre River, above the Ridgway Reservoir, that results primarily from snowmelt between April 15 and June 26, 2026. UWP will use measurements from the U.S. Geological Survey gage at County Road 24 to determine the top three predictions.
Winner Determination: The winner of the Uncompahgre River Classic will be the entrant who predicted the closest date and time to the actual date and time of the peak flow. If more than one entrant is equally close to predicting the correct date and time, the entrant who paid for their entry first will be the winner. If more than one entrant is equally close or correct in their prediction and paid for their entries at the same time, the entrant who also predicts the flow rate (cubic feet per second) closest to the actual peak flow will be the winner. The second through fifth place winners will be determined similarly. Each entrant may only win one prize. If entrants have more than one of closest prediction among the top five, they may not win a second prize. The entrant with the next closest prediction will be selected to win the next prize.
Disclaimers: Flows outside the designated peak flow period outlined in the contest rules, and in locations other than the designated U.S.G.S. gage will not be considered in this contest.
Eligibility: Only people who are 13 years old and up may enter the contest (families with children under 13 are encouraged to make their predictions together and enter under the parent/guardian name). Board members and contracted staff of the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership as well as immediate family members living in their household are not eligible to win prizes in the Uncompahgre River Classic.
Prize Pickup: Winners must pick up their prizes in Ridgway, Colo. UWP will not ship prizes, unless winners pay shipping costs.
Entrant Agreement: By entering a prediction in the Uncompahgre River Classic, the entrant agrees to receive emails from UWP through the period of the contest: March 15 to June 26, 2026. Emails will primarily give updates on the contest, educational information about peak flows/streamflows and related UWP activities. Afterwards, entrants will only continue to receive emails from UWP if they subscribe to updates on the form in the top right margin of UWP’s website or at the link in the thank you confirmation for each purchase. UWP may also send one mailing to entrants’ mailing addresses annually related to our nonprofit’s membership drive. Please email info@uncompahgrewatershed.org if you wish to be taken off the membership drive list. UWP will only give entrant contact information to the contest sponsors, who may contact you but must request your permission to be added to any regular mailing lists.
If you have any questions about the Uncompahgre River Classic, please contact UWP Communications Director Tanya Ishikawa at info@uncompahgrewatershed.org or 970-325-3010.
