If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post and check back regularly. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee.

At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is currently releasing 1,000 CFS downstream as we ramp down in order to reach 800 CFS by this evening (June 6th), where we expect to remain into next week. With the June update, the monthly forecasted volumetric inflow decreased enough that releases could no longer be sustained at 1,200 CFS while still filling McPhee.

At this point, the reduced forecast means we can no longer expect consistent flows of 800 CFS or more to occur after approximately Wednesday, June 14th. At that time, operators will drop flows as low as necessary to finish filling McPhee before the seasonal recession reduces inflows too low for the reservoir to finish filling.

McPhee is currently at 6921.6 FT water surface elevation. When McPhee is near full (6924 FT), releases will mimic the pattern of inflows into the reservoir minus diversions (predicted to be about 700 CFS) in order to keep the water surface elevation stable. This means releases will start following a less consistent, diurnal pattern similar to inflows where flows will vary throughout the day. Downstream releases could be more or less than 800 CFS at that time, will be determined based on inflows, and are expected to decrease on average until downstream releases reach the planned base flow of 75 CFS. CBRFC produces a daily inflow forecast that provides an idea of what inflows to expect moving forward. It is a model and therefore bears a measure of uncertainty, but it may still be an informative source when releases begin mimicking the river. You can find it at https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/dbdata/station/flowgraph/flowgraph_hc.html?id=MPHC2&ptype=2&linear_flow=0.

As always, the forecast can change, and the remaining length of the spill is unknown. Particularly this late into the spill, releases below McPhee can change at any time. Check this page as well as the river gages before making plans downstream.

American Whitewater has asked us to post a link to their online rafter survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DoloresBoaters2023.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is currently releasing 1,200 CFS downstream. Tomorrow morning, Friday June 2nd, releases will increase to 1,500 CFS where they should remain through Sunday, June 4th, when they will likely return to 1,200 CFS. Afterwards, flows are expected to remain at 1,200 CFS through next week. Depending on the rate at which McPhee is filling, flows may increase for next weekend as well. Check back next week for updates.

When McPhee is near full (6924 FT water surface elevation) releases will begin mimicking the pattern of inflow into the reservoir minus diversions (which are predicted to be about 700 CFS) in order to keep the water surface elevation stable. This means the releases will start following a less consistent, diurnal pattern that can vary in discharge by up to 1,000 CFS or more within a 24 hour period. During this phase, there is increased probability that releases will drop below 1,200 CFS — particularly in the late afternoon when inflows are at their diurnal minimum. Cool weather or cloud cover over the McPhee drainage may also reduce flows temporarily.

The duration of raftable flows after June 2nd is unknown, but for planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue for approximately 10 days, and may extend longer.

Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

American Whitewater has asked us to post a link to their online rafter survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DoloresBoaters2023.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is currently releasing 1,200 CFS downstream. Releases are scheduled to stay at 1,200 CFS through at least Thursday, June 1st for fishery sampling below Slickrock. Afterwards, flows are expected to remain at 1,200 CFS through the weekend and into next week as McPhee fills the last five feet or so to 6924 FT water surface elevation. When McPhee is full, releases will begin mimicking the pattern of inflow into the reservoir minus diversions (which are predicted to be about 700 CFS) in order to keep the water surface elevation stable. This means the releases will start following a less consistent, diurnal pattern that can vary in discharge by up to 1,000 CFS or more within a 24 hour period. During this phase, releases should start out at raftable levels, but the lower the river above McPhee gets, the greater the risk that releases can drop below 1,200 CFS during this time — particularly in the late afternoon when inflows are at their diurnal minimum. Cool weather or cloud cover over the McPhee drainage may also reduce flows temporarily.

The duration of raftable flows after June 2nd is unknown, but for planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue for approximately 10 days, and may extend longer.

Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

American Whitewater has asked us to post a link to their online rafter survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DoloresBoaters2023.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is currently releasing 2,400 CFS downstream. Releases are expected to stay at 2,400 CFS through Sunday, May 28th, when releases will begin ramping down to reach 1,200 CFS on Tuesday, May 30th, for fishery sampling flows. Releases are expected to remain at 1,200 CFS until Friday, June 2nd. On June 2nd, releases are expected to ramp back up to a flow that stabilizes the reservoir elevation, possibly to 2,000 CFS or higher. The duration of raftable flows after June 2nd is unknown.

For planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue through the first week of June and may extend longer. Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. The later we get into the runoff season, the less certainty there is in release rates, and as the seasonal recession begins, releases will mimic the pattern of reservoir inflows more and more as operators will focus on keeping McPhee full through the end of the spill.

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

Notice: Starting at 10:30 AM today, releases from McPhee began ramping down from 3,000 CFS to 2,400 CFS, which they will reach by 5:00 PM today.

Currently, releases are expected to stay at 2,400 CFS until Sunday, May 28th, when releases will begin ramping down to reach 1,200 CFS by Tuesday, May 30th, for fishery sampling flows. Flows are expected to remain at 1,200 CFS until Friday, June 2nd. On June 2nd, releases are expected to ramp back up to a flow that stabilizes the reservoir elevation, possibly to 2,000 CFS or higher. The duration of raftable flows after June 2nd is unknown.

For planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue through the first week of June and may extend longer. Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. The later we get into the runoff season, the less certainty there is in release rates, and when the seasonal recession begins, releases will mimic the pattern of reservoir inflows more and more as operators will focus on keeping McPhee full through the end of the spill.

The short-term weather forecast is still calling for cloud-cover and afternoon thunderstorms through Wednesday. McPhee is currently sitting at a water surface elevation of 6916.4 FT (McPhee is full at 6924 FT).

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

Notice: Starting at noon today, releases from McPhee began ramping down from 4,000 CFS to 3,000 CFS, which they will reach by midnight tonight.

This morning, USGS confirmed that instrument malfunction on the Dolores River at Dolores Gauge was causing the gauge to report artificially high flows. They are repairing the gauge now. In reaction, reservoir operators are reducing releases to maintain McPhee’s storage.

Currently, releases are expected to stay at 3,000 CFS into the weekend, but this may vary. Please check tomorrow’s and Thursday’s updates to confirm.

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is releasing approximately 4,000 CFS, which is where releases are expected to remain until Thursday, May 25th.

Currently, we are planning to reduce releases for Memorial Day weekend. Based on the current runoff forecast, we expect to begin ramping down to 3,400 CFS on Thursday, May 25th.

One of the ecological goals for this year’s release is to run some lower raftable flows to accommodate a fishery sampling run by CPW in late May. For this, the plan is to get releases down to 1,200 CFS by Tuesday, May 30th and hold there until Friday, June 2nd. To reach that rate, releases will ramp down at a rate of approximately 100 CFS every 3 hours starting Sunday, May 28th, reaching 1,200 CFS the morning of the 30th.

On June 2nd, releases are expected to quickly ramp back up to a flow that stabilizes the reservoir elevation, possibly to 2,000 CFS or higher. The duration of raftable flows after June 2nd is unknown.

For planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue through the first week of June and may extend longer. Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. The later we get into the runoff season, the less certainty there is in release rates, and when the seasonal recession begins, releases will mimic the pattern of reservoir inflows more and more as operators will focus on keeping McPhee full through the end of the spill.

The short-term weather forecast is still calling for cloud-cover and afternoon thunderstorms through the weekend and into next week, causing some uncertainty in the short-term forecast. McPhee is currently sitting at a water surface elevation of 6917.6 FT (McPhee is full at 6924 FT).

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

McPhee is releasing approximately 4,000 CFS, which is where releases are expected to remain until Thursday, May 18th. Depending on inflows, there is a good chance releases will ramp down to 3,400 CFS for the weekend. If they do, then releases will start ramping down late Thursday, and will likely ramp back up to 4,000 CFS on the morning of Monday, May 22nd. Otherwise, releases may remain at 4,000 CFS through the weekend. Check back Thursday for confirmation.

Currently, we are planning to reduce releases for Memorial Day weekend. Based on the current runoff forecast, we expect to begin ramping down to 3,400 CFS on Wednesday, May 24th.

One of the ecological goals for this year’s release is to run some lower raftable flows to accommodate a fishery sampling run by CPW in late May. For this, the plan is to get releases down to 1,200 CFS by Tuesday, May 30th and hold there until Thursday, June 1st. To reach that rate, releases will ramp down steadily over memorial day weekend. We’ll provide more info on this ramp-down in future updates when there is more certainty in the inflow forecast. On June 1st, releases are expected to ramp back up to a flow that stabilizes the reservoir elevation.

For planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue through the first week of June. Be aware, this is a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. Releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes. The later we get into the runoff season, the less certainty there is in release rates, and when the seasonal recession begins, releases will mimic the pattern of reservoir inflows more and more as operators will focus on keeping McPhee full through the end of the spill.

The short-term weather forecast is still calling for cloud-cover and afternoon thunderstorms through the weekend. These types of storm systems tend to be inconsistent and have unpredictable impacts on the runoff. Reduced solar radiation can slow the snowmelt, but rain-on-snow can trigger spikes of high flows where these storms manifest at high elevations. Running 4,000 CFS over the weekend opened some more storage in McPhee to absorb these potential spikes, and McPhee is currently sitting at a water surface elevation of 6917.4 FT.

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges at high water levels with potentially limited clearance. Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

Notice: Starting at 09:30 AM today, releases from McPhee began ramping up from 3,400 CFS to 4,000 CFS, which releases should reach by 4:00 PM today. Flows should remain at 4,000 CFS until Tuesday, May 16th when we’ll provide further updates.

This increase in releases is intended to create more storage in the reservoir in anticipation of a possible spike in runoff over the next few days resulting from rainfall onto the snowpack. Rainfall can accelerate the snowmelt unpredictably, and the active weather pattern over the upper Dolores basin through the next week has a strong likelihood of rain at higher elevations where the majority of the snowpack remains.

We will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges (notably a county road bridge below the Slick Rock takeout, a country road bridge a few miles below the Big Gypsum boat ramp, and the highway 141 bridge in Gateway.) Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River

If you intend to spend time on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir, please read this entire post. We’ll be updating here twice weekly, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this is the best source of information on downstream releases from McPhee. At the bottom of this post are some links to flow data sources and recreational organizations including Dolores River Boating Advocates and American Whitewater. These organizations can tell you more about what to expect floating the Dolores downstream of McPhee.

This message has not changed significantly from Tuesday’s update.

McPhee is still releasing approximately 3,400 CFS, which is where releases are expected to remain through Tuesday, May 16th, when we’ll provide further updates. For planning purposes, raftable flows (1,200 CFS or more) are expected to continue through Memorial Day weekend. Be aware, this is just a forecast, and the true length and volume of the spill remain unknown. The first half of the spill will have more certainty than the second half.

Cool, cloudy weather has slowed inflows, and McPhee is currently sitting at a water surface elevation of 6918.9 FT. This weather is expected to persist into next week. Storms and other low-pressure systems like we’re in tend to reduce the daily peak temperature and the sunlight that reaches the snowpack. This slows the melt and tempers the runoff for a time, even as more precipitation is potentially being added to the basin. This introduces more uncertainty into river forecasts; for example: the influence of these kinds of systems can be inconsistent across the basin and the reduction of measured flows can obfuscate the typical trends in the hydrograph that hydrologists look for as signals of upcoming flow changes.

As always, there is uncertainty in the forecasted inflows; if the reservoir rises faster than current predictions, there is the possibility that releases will increase to control reservoir elevation, possibly to around 4,000 CFS. With the reservoir relatively full, operators are balancing outflows with inflows to minimize reservoir gains, and so lose some discretion in regards to release rates. This is especially true this year, when low snowmelt has filled the reservoir weeks earlier than predicted. If recreating on the river, be aware that releases below McPhee can change at any time, though operators will endeavor to minimize unannounced changes.

As usual, we will continue to monitor conditions and will update this page as the spill progresses.

The following is a message from Dolores River Boating Advocates:

As releases from McPhee exceed 3,000 cfs, the water becomes swift with limited eddys. It is important to be aware of your location on the river, especially if navigating through Snaggletooth or the rapids below Gateway. Camps will become inundated in some cases, and in others hard to catch or overgrown.

Potential hazards include bridges (notably a county road bridge below the Slick Rock takeout, a country road bridge a few miles below the Big Gypsum boat ramp, and the highway 141 bridge in Gateway.) Additionally, as the river rises, logs and wood will become mobilized and possibly create strainers and hazards. Further, in some areas, the channel may be braided, and it is important to be alert and aware of various options.

As flows increase or decrease, be sure to be aware of fluctuations and tie your boats up appropriately. Always bring necessary safety gear, and required equipment including a groover and firepan.

For more details on the current official forecast, go to https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/graph/front/espplot_dg.html?year=2023&id=MPHC2

Useful Links:

Dolores Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09166500

McPhee Elevation & Capacity:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_tabular.aspx?ID=MCPRESCO&MTYPE=STORAGE

Dolores below McPhee:  https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/detail_graph.aspx?ID=DOLBMCCO&MTYPE=DISCHRG

Slickrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09168730

Bedrock Gage:  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09171100

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river-srma

The BLM has a detailed boating map of the Dolores river posted on their website. Link below.

BLM Avenza Map page for the Dolores: https://www.blm.gov/documents/colorado/public-room/map/colorado-dolores-river-100k-boating-map-17×40

DRBA:  https://doloresriverboating.org/

AW:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/

The following are links to the American Whitewater River Inventory pages for the lower Dolores River:

Bradfield to Dove Creek

Dove Creek to Slickrock

Slickrock to Bedrock

Bedrock to Gateway

Gateway to Confluence with the Colorado River