Precipitation in the form of snowfall plays the dominant role in year-to-year streamflow variability in the Uncompahgre River Watershed, but air temperature also has a significant impact. In the spring, the air temperature rises, snowmelt begins, and streamflow increases. This generally begins when nighttime temperatures stay at or above freezing (see blue line in the … Read more
Be aware of reasons for Uncompahgre River color change To allow the Ouray Hydroelectric Plant to continue operating, the hydrodam reservoir will release water full of sediment for approximately one week, starting Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m. This release into the Uncompahgre River upstream from the Ouray Ice Park happens each spring as annual … Read more
The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) has completed its first report for the Ouray Hydrodam Sediment Release Study, detailing the water quality impacts of the annual release into the Uncompahgre River. Due to the release’s increased flows and concentrations of heavy metals compared to pre-release flows in the river,the study compares metals concentrations to water quality … Read more
