Weld County Water Intelligence Brief

June 29, 2026 | Water Division 1 | South Platte Basin

*Free-Tier Brief*

Situation Summary

Weld County's two-river system — the South Platte mainstem and Cache la Poudre — is entering peak irrigation demand with snowpack-fed runoff already largely complete following an anomalous 2026 melt season in which headwaters stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Supplemental C-BT supply and direct-flow administration under Water Division 1 are now the primary variables governing delivery reliability for allotment holders and canal company members through the remainder of the irrigation season. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and priority call status analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three SNOTEL stations monitoring the Cache la Poudre headwaters — the snowpack source for river flows entering Weld County from the northwest — are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent as of June 28, 2026.

No percent-of-median figures are shown for any station, which indicates that the median SWE for this calendar date is also 0.0" — these stations are at their normal seasonal condition for late June. The accurate concern for 2026 is not that snowpack is below normal *today*, but that meltout occurred 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. That earlier-than-normal meltout means the snowmelt pulse that drives Poudre River runoff has already passed. Residual snowmelt contribution to streamflow is minimal. Note that South Platte basin headwaters — Blue River, upper South Platte canyon drainages feeding Carter Lake and Denver metro infrastructure — are not directly monitored by these three Poudre-focused stations and represent an additional upstream supply variable.

Streamflow Conditions

Cache la Poudre River — Fort Collins gauge (06752260): 54 cfs, falling, as of June 29. This upper Poudre mainstem reading reflects conditions upstream of major agricultural diversions in Larimer County and provides the baseline flow picture entering the Weld County delivery zone.

Cache la Poudre River — above Boxelder Creek near Timnath (06752280): 35 cfs, falling, as of June 29. This gauge is the closest active indicator to the Poudre's entry into Weld County and reflects post-diversion conditions after significant upstream withdrawals. The 19 cfs difference between Fort Collins and Timnath reflects the scale of upstream consumptive use along this reach. The falling trend at both gauges is consistent with post-meltout recession and is the expected pattern for this point in the season given the early 2026 meltout.

South Platte River — Fort Lupton (06721000): 228 cfs, rising, as of June 29. The rising condition on the South Platte mainstem contrasts with the falling Poudre readings and may reflect return flow contributions, tributary inputs, or upstream release dynamics — the specific driver is not confirmed in available data. Fort Lupton is the primary active mainstem indicator for Weld County South Platte conditions; the historic Kersey gauge (06754000) has been inactive since 2000 and should not be referenced as a current source.

Taken together, the two-river picture shows a Poudre system in post-peak recession and a South Platte mainstem currently running higher with a rising trend. Junior direct-flow right holders on the Poudre face the greatest near-term delivery uncertainty as flows continue to recede and senior downstream demand is satisfied first under prior appropriation.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 28, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 29, 2026

Data Current As Of: June 29, 2026

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.