Tuesday October 27, 2027
Tuesday October 27, 2026 Update from Superintendent-David Hofmann
Vallecito Reservoir did reach its peak elevation last night and is starting to lower as the releases were increased and inflows dropped. That trend down is a very good thing. Inflows are down and just below 1,300 cfs as of this afternoon.
The Colorado Division of Water Resources measured the flow below Vallecito this afternoon and the flow was close to 1,950 cfs which includes the releases out of Vallecito and localized runoff like Red Creek. Big thanks to DWR staff. The gate curve for the releases is off slightly and will be adjusted accordingly. For those downstream, please use the gage data to determine how much flow is in the river below Vallecito. I did include the DWR link below. Please remember as you get further downstream, there are more inflows into the river and the flow increases accordingly.
The flows at the USGS Ignacio gage are closer to 2100 cfs. I do not believe the USGS has measured this gage lately, but there could be 150 cfs of inflow between the 2 gages.
Tonight we are lowering the flows by 200 cfs. This is happening to try and reduce turbidity at the intake to the Ignacio Water Treatment system tomorrow. They are trying to refill their stabilization pond and allow regular production throughout the next storm. Lowering the releases overnight should help that situation. We will know more about this tomorrow.
Because the flows below the reservoir were higher than anticipated, reducing the flow does not interfere with the release calculation analysis and the lowering of the reservoir estimates in preparation for next weekend's storm.
The Weather Service models (multiple) used have not come to a consensus on the strength of the storm and its path, so we will continue to lower the reservoir at a good rate until the forecast becomes clearer, and a better educated decision can be made.
I want to remind everyone that the Hydrological conditions have changed dramatically throughout this past storm and even today. The Colorado River Basin Forecast Center's inflow calculation before the storm went from near 4,000 cfs to over 10,000 cfs in there estimating process over several days. The final peak was close to 7,600 cfs. There is little long-term planning yet, but everyone involved in the decision-making process is making adjustments and updating their advice and models with the newest information. Longer term analysis will be completed after the storms have passed, and the lake level has receded.
The Reservoir never came closer than 14,000 acre feet from full. The flows through the Town of Ignacio, nor anywhere above the town to the reservoir outlets ever exceeded the Army Corp safe channel capacity. The boots on the ground kept a diligent eye on the river levels, even though there is no gage at the Town of Ignacio to see the impact of Dry Creek and Beaver Creek inflows into the Los Pinos River above Ignacio.
There will be more updates tomorrow. Have a safe evening. Thanks for your attention.
PRIOR DAYS UPDATE BELOW
Monday October 26, 2026 Update from Superintendent-David Hofmann
Releases from Vallecito Reservoir have been increasing since October 20th as an extremely large storm passed through. As of today (Oct 26th), Vallecito is over 90% full, and the inflows are above 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs).
As of October 26th, releases are at 1,500 cfs and will continue to increase as there is another storm on the horizon. The releases will remain high for the foreseeable future to stabilize the capacity of the reservoir and safety of the system. Good weather for the next few days will allow catchup and stabilization. Releases could go as high a 2,000 cfs but will remain below the safe channel capacity of 2,500 cfs set by the Army Corp of Engineers. Flows in the Town of Ignacio will be higher than the release value due to low elevation flows in creeks and tributaries to the Pine River.
Some of you may recall in the spring of 2015 when the releases from Vallecito peaked at 3,000 cfs. The current projected releases are significantly below those levels. Springtime flushes on the river have also been near 2,000 cfs in the recent years, and many of you have experienced those flows firsthand. Please use the link below to check for yourself the data available on the Colorado Division of Water Resources website.
Link --- Stations
Vallecito Reservoir and Navajo Reservoir fulfilled an important part of their mission by providing critical flood control and absorbing a significant amount of precipitation from the recent storm. Although some areas of the Four Corners experienced severe flooding, these dams helped reduce the impact of the deluge and provided valuable protection for downstream communities. Their performance reflects the Bureau of Reclamation’s outstanding design, construction, and maintenance of these systems over more than 80 years.
All parties involved will continue to diligently monitor the situation up and down the Pine River and future storm systems.
Thanks to our partners including but not limited to:
Bureau of Reclamation, Barr Engineering, La Plata County Emergency Management, Southern Ute Indian Tribe and several of its entities such as Water Resources, Fairgrounds staff and Emergency Management, Upper Pine Fire District, Colorado Division of Water Resources, Pine River Canal and Robert Morrison Ditches, National Weather Service out of Grand Junction – and many more