After sparse snowfall last winter and a warm spring, the Animas River has likely seen its peak spring flow.
According to data from the Colorado Basin River Flow Center, the Animas River was measured at 1,401 cubic feet per second Friday. In the days since, the river has receded to 878 cfs, and is expected to spike to just over 1,200 cfs by May 26 before going back down.
That is because of what little of the winter’s snowpack remains in the San Juan Mountains and the relatively rainless short-term weather forecast, said Erin Walter, National Weather Service hydrologist.
“There’s just not enough (snowpack volume) left to make that spike up even more, and we don’t really have a substantial rain event in our near future,” Walter said. “So it does look like the peak for the year.”
She said the 2026 peak is the third smallest on record, right after 2002 and 1977, which saw only 777 cfs and 1,220 cfs, respectively. What’s more, this year’s peak is earlier than normal; on most years, the Animas usually peaks in late May or early June.
More snow means higher river flows, more water storage for down-river communities and reduced fire danger.
“We really do depend on our snowpack as our main water supply,” she said. “It’s like our natural reservoir.”
With this year’s low snowpack, Walter said her organization is urging residents to be conservative with their water use and to avoid activities that could spark a wildfire.
“So the main message we are putting out this year is to try and conserve water and to be more aware of activities that could potentially start fires, just because we are expecting kind of an above-normal fire season,” she said.
She said residents should consider watering their grass less, watering at night and strictly adhering to fire bans.
“Everybody can make a little bit of a difference, and together we could make a big difference,” Walter said.
The Animas River is one of Durango’s biggest tourism and recreational draws, something showcased by the annual Animas River Days whitewater festival, in which professional and recreational boaters take to the river to showcase their skills and celebrate the river.
The 2026 Animas River Days is scheduled for May 30 and 31, which usually coincides with the river’s peak. The event’s executive director, Ashleigh Tucker, said she anticipates this year’s festivities to be just as fun and for river levels to stay consistent leading up to the event.
“We’re hopefully going to see 1,000 to 1,500 cfs for hopefully a couple weeks,” Tucker said. “It’s better for boaters to have more water longer. Even if it’s not going to be a really big peak, we’d rather have the river be consistent than for it to get really big and go quickly.”
Low water years can increase participation in Animas River Days, she said. Big water can be scary and turn people away from running the river.
“A lot of times we see more local participation when the water’s lower, because it’s not as intimidating,” Tucker said.
Because of that, this year’s event will feature more low-key activities – coined “Local Yokels” – in addition to its signature competitive kayak, raft and canoe staples. And at the end of the day, Tucker said Animas River Days is really about celebrating the river, in all its forms and at all its flows.
“We’re excited, no matter what the water level is,” she said. “And we’re going to make the best of it.”
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
