Uncompahgre River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uncompahgre River |
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The river in southern Montrose County.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Cities | Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, Olathe, Delta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Como near Ouray, San Juan County 12,215 ft (3,723 m) 37°55′09″N 107°37′11″W / 37.91917°N 107.61972°W |
| River mouth | Gunnison River Delta, Delta County 4,915 ft (1,498 m) 38°45′24″N 108°05′25″W / 38.75667°N 108.09028°W |
| Length | 75 mi (121 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,114 sq mi (2,890 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Uncompahgre River is a river in southwestern Colorado, United States. It flows for about 75 miles (121 km). This river is a tributary, meaning it flows into, the Gunnison River.
The Uncompahgre River starts high up in the mountains. Its source is Lake Como, located at 12,215 feet (3,723 meters) above sea level. This lake is in northern San Juan County, within the Uncompahgre National Forest. The river then flows northwest through several towns. These towns include Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, and Olathe. Finally, it joins the Gunnison River in Delta.
The river carves out impressive natural features. It forms areas like Poughkeepsie Gulch and the Uncompahgre Gorge. Many smaller streams, called creeks, flow into the Uncompahgre River. These creeks drain water from the northwestern San Juan Mountains.
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What Does the Name "Uncompahgre" Mean?
The name Uncompahgre comes from the Ute language. The Ute are a Native American tribe. The word roughly translates to "dirty water," "red lake," or "red water spring." This name likely refers to the many hot springs found near the town of Ouray. The water from these springs can sometimes have a reddish tint.
How Is the River Used?
The Uncompahgre River is very important for the local area. It helps with farming in the Uncompahgre Valley. Farmers use its water to irrigate their crops.
Dams and Water Diversion
There are two dams on the Uncompahgre River. One is a small diversion dam in the Uncompahgre Gorge. The other is Ridgway Dam, located below the town of Ridgway. This dam creates Ridgway Reservoir, which stores water.
Water from the nearby Gunnison River is also brought to the Uncompahgre Valley. This happens through a special tunnel called the Gunnison Tunnel. This helps make sure there's enough water for irrigation. The Uncompahgre River is usually not deep enough for boats, except when the water levels are very high.
Protecting the Uncompahgre River
Efforts are being made to keep the Uncompahgre River healthy. In October 2020, the City of Montrose announced a big project. This project will restore parts of the river. It will cost millions of dollars and take several years.
River Restoration Project
The project received a lot of money from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The goals of this restoration are:
- Improve places where fish live.
- Make the riverbanks more stable to prevent erosion.
- Create more places for people to access the river.
- Increase opportunities for public fishing.
This project is a partnership between different groups. These include Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado Trout Unlimited, and a fly fishing company called Mayfly Outdoors. They are all working together to protect this important natural resource.
See also
In Spanish: Río Uncompahgre para niños
