Weld County Water Intelligence Brief

June 8, 2026 | Water Division 1 | South Platte Basin

Situation Summary

Weld County's 2026 water supply picture is defined by early meltout rather than below-normal snowpack: all three Cache la Poudre headwaters SNOTEL stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the peak runoff pulse has already passed for the season. Current Poudre and South Platte flows remain measurable, but the seasonal snowmelt contribution that typically supports mid-June irrigation demand is largely exhausted. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three monitored SNOTEL stations in the Cache la Poudre headwaters (Larimer County) are reporting seasonal conditions consistent with a completed melt season — not below-normal snowpack relative to today's date.

Deadman Hill (438:CO:SNTL) — as of June 7, SWE is 0.0" with 0.0" snow depth. No percent-of-median is reported, indicating the station's historical median SWE for this date is also 0.0" — this is a normal end-of-season reading for this station in mid-June. The significant story here is timing: this station melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of its historical median meltout date in 2026.

Hourglass Lake (1122:CO:SNTL) — as of June 7, SWE is 0.0" with 0.0" snow depth. As with Deadman Hill, no percent-of-median is shown, confirming that 0.0" is within the normal seasonal range for this date. Again, the operational concern is that meltout occurred 4–6 weeks earlier than historical median, compressing the runoff window well into spring rather than extending through early summer.

Joe Wright (551:CO:SNTL) — as of June 7, SWE is 0.2" at 2% of the 9.1" historical median, with 4.0" snow depth remaining. This is the one station where below-normal language is appropriate: at 2% of median, Joe Wright is carrying a trace of residual snowpack where nearly a foot of water equivalent would historically remain. This station sits at higher elevation and typically holds snow the longest in the Poudre headwaters — its near-zero reading confirms that the 2026 melt season is effectively complete across the monitored basin.

These three stations monitor the headwaters that generate Cache la Poudre River flows entering Weld County from the northwest. South Platte basin headwaters feeding Carter Lake and the Denver metro reach are an additional upstream variable not captured by these stations.

Streamflow Conditions

Weld County agriculture is served by two distinct river systems, and current gauge readings reflect where each stands on June 8.

Cache la Poudre River — Fort Collins gauge (06752260): 279 cfs, rising. This upstream Larimer County gauge provides the closest available signal for Poudre supply conditions before water enters the northern Weld County delivery system. The rising trend is notable given near-zero snowpack at all three headwater SNOTEL stations and warrants monitoring.

Cache la Poudre River above Boxelder Creek near Timnath (06752280): 276 cfs, rising. This gauge is the closest active monitoring point to where the Poudre enters Weld County and is the most direct indicator for northern Weld County canal company diversions. The near-identical reading to the Fort Collins gauge suggests limited tributary input or loss between the two stations. The rising trend at both Poudre gauges is the key current signal for irrigators on the lower Poudre system.

South Platte River at Fort Lupton (06721000): 195 cfs, stable. This is the primary mainstem South Platte indicator within Weld County. At stable conditions, the South Platte is supporting diversions but provides no additional buffer from snowmelt contribution at this stage of the season. Irrigators holding direct-flow rights on the South Platte mainstem should treat current flows as a real-time supply ceiling rather than a rising resource. The historic Kersey gauge (06754000) has been inactive since 2000 and is not a current data source.

The two-river picture as of June 8: the Poudre is modestly higher and rising; the South Platte mainstem is stable at moderate flows. With snowmelt effectively complete across the monitored headwaters, both rivers are transitioning toward base-flow and irrigation-return-flow-dominated regimes for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 7, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 8, 2026

Data Current As Of: 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.