Weld County Water Intelligence Brief

August 31, 2026 | Water Division 1 — South Platte Basin

*Free-Tier Edition*

Situation Summary

The South Platte River at Fort Lupton is running at 163 cfs and falling, while the Cache la Poudre at Fort Collins and near Timnath is posting 19–23 cfs and rising — a diverging signal that reflects the late-season complexity facing Weld County irrigators this week. With snowpack gone and no meaningful mountain reservoir recharge expected, delivery reliability for junior right holders now depends entirely on current streamflow and C-BT supplemental allocation status. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three SNOTEL stations monitoring the Cache la Poudre headwaters are reporting 0.0" snow water equivalent and 0.0" snow depth as of August 30 — a normal seasonal reading for this date, as median SWE is also 0.0" at this point in the calendar year. No percent-of-median figure applies. The accurate 2026 context is one of timing: Joe Wright, Deadman Hill, and Hourglass Lake all melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by the anomalous March heat wave. That early meltout accelerated the Poudre River's peak runoff window well into spring, and the basin has been operating on residual and supplemental supply since. South Platte headwaters snowpack — Blue River drainage and upper Platte canyon stations — is a separate upstream variable not captured by these three stations.

Streamflow Conditions

Cache la Poudre River at Fort Collins: 23 cfs, rising (08/31)

Cache la Poudre River above Boxelder Creek near Timnath: 19 cfs, rising (08/31)

South Platte River at Fort Lupton: 163 cfs, falling (08/31)

The two rivers are telling different stories this week. The South Platte at Fort Lupton remains the higher-volume system at 163 cfs, though a falling trend signals reduced upstream inflow and the tightening late-season conditions typical of late August on the High Plains. Northern Weld County users drawing from the Poudre corridor face a more constrained picture: 23 cfs at Fort Collins and 19 cfs near Timnath represent low late-season flows on a river that has been draining its snowmelt pulse since early spring. The modest rising trend on the Poudre may reflect localized runoff or upstream operational releases rather than a sustained inflow improvement. Junior direct-flow right holders on the Poudre are the most exposed to call administration under these flow levels. C-BT supplemental supply remains the critical backstop for allotment holders across both corridors — contact Northern Water for current unit pricing and delivery status.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 30, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 31, 2026

Data Current As Of: August 31, 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 — northernwater.org; Horsetooth Reservoir data via Northern Water portal 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.