Weld County Water Intelligence Brief

October 26, 2026 | Water Division 1 — South Platte Basin

Situation Summary

Cache la Poudre River flows are rising at both active gauges this week, with the Timnath station recording 259 cfs and Fort Collins at 237 cfs, while the South Platte mainstem at Fort Lupton holds stable at 158 cfs — conditions that reflect late-October base flow regimes rather than active irrigation demand. With the primary irrigation season concluding, C-BT allotment holders and canal company members should focus attention on end-of-season delivery accounting and augmentation plan obligations heading into the off-season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three SNOTEL stations monitoring Cache la Poudre headwaters snowpack are reporting early-season conditions consistent with late October, with important variation across elevations.

Joe Wright (10/25) is the strongest performer, recording 0.8" SWE — 80% of the 1.0" median for this date — with 4.0" snow depth. This station is tracking near-normal for this point in the calendar, offering a modestly encouraging early-season signal for the upper Poudre headwaters.

Deadman Hill (10/25) shows 0.5" SWE at 35% of the 1.4" median, with 2.0" snow depth. This station is running below normal for late October, a condition worth monitoring as the accumulation season advances.

Hourglass Lake (10/25) shows 0.1" SWE with 0.0" snow depth and no percent-of-median reported. When no percent-of-median is shown, the station's historical median SWE for this specific date is also 0.0" — meaning Hourglass Lake is at its normal seasonal condition for late October, not below normal.

As background context: 2026 was characterized by an anomalous March heat wave that drove meltout across these headwater stations 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. That early-meltout signal defined the 2026 irrigation season supply picture. The current story is how early-season accumulation develops from this point. Note that South Platte basin headwaters snowpack — Blue River drainage and upper Platte canyon stations feeding Carter Lake and the broader mainstem — is an additional upstream variable not monitored by these three Poudre-focused stations.

Streamflow Conditions

Cache la Poudre River above Boxelder Creek near Timnath (10/26): 259 cfs, rising. This is the closest active gauge to where the Poudre enters Weld County and is the primary upstream delivery indicator for northern Weld County canal and C-BT system users.

Cache la Poudre River at Fort Collins (10/26): 237 cfs, rising. The upstream Fort Collins reading running slightly below the Timnath gauge reflects normal tributary and return flow contributions between the two stations. Both Poudre gauges are trending upward, which is consistent with late-October conditions following fall precipitation or upstream release activity.

South Platte River at Fort Lupton (10/26): 158 cfs, stable. The mainstem South Platte is holding steady at a level that reflects late-season base flow conditions. This gauge is the primary active indicator for South Platte mainstem conditions in Weld County; the historic Kersey gauge is inactive and should not be used as a current data reference.

Taken together, the two-river system is operating in a stable late-season mode. Rising Poudre flows and a steady South Platte mainstem represent the transition from irrigation season to off-season administration. Water Division 1 priority calls remain a background condition for any junior right holders with remaining operational needs.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 25, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 26, 2026

Data Current As Of: October 26, 2026 | Colorado Division of Water Resources

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including your local water district, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water — administers C-BT Project; Horsetooth Reservoir data via Northern Water portal at northernwater.org or USBR HydroMet site HRT), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Eastern Colorado Area Office (Loveland, CO), and Colorado Division of Water Resources, Water Division 1 (Greeley office) for regulatory decisions and water rights administration. This brief does not constitute legal, engineering, or water rights advice.