Montezuma County Search and Rescue

10/27/2026

10/25/2026

Video from MCSAR volunteer Eddy Lewis's recon flight over the Dolores River at McPhee Reservoir.

The upper Dolores is now trending downward, but still high enough for rafting, and too high to wade.

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10/25/2026

Flooding continues along the entire San Juan River, from Archuleta County, Colorado, through San Juan County, New Mexico, and San Juan County, Utah.

The gauge at the Four Corners peaked at over 54,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) Saturday night (far beyond previous records). As of Sunday morning, it was still in major flood stage but starting to trend downward; and Highway 160 was closed at the San Juan River bridge at the Four Corners.

Downstream, the river is still trending upward. Major, possibly catastrophic, flooding is expected, especially Sunday and Monday, in San Juan County, Utah, including Aneth, Montezuma Creek, Bluff, and Mexican Hat.

The flood warning for western Montezuma County and southern San Juan County, Utah, remains in effect.

The state of Colorado has declared a disaster emergency for 12 counties in southwest Colorado due to flooding.

10/25/2026

The FLOOD WARNING for western Montezuma County, including tributaries of the San Juan River, is in effect until at least Monday morning. This is in addition to the FLOOD WATCH covering all of Montezuma County and most of southwestern Colorado and beyond.

The Dolores River may be on the way back down, but the San Juan River is still rising.

From the National Weather Service,

FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Catastrophic flooding caused by excessive rainfall is
expected along the San Juan River between Four Corners and Mexican
Hat. This is an emergency situation!

* WHERE...Western Montezuma County in southwestern Colorado...
Southern San Juan County in southeastern Utah...

* WHEN...Until 1100 AM MDT Monday.

* IMPACTS...Flooding along San Juan River is occurring with near
major flooding forecast. Low-water crossing are inundated with
water and may not be passable. The river is running fast and high.
Do not attempt to cross.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 726 PM MDT, The San Juan River is forecast to crest around 1
am MDT Sunday morning at the Four Corners, reaching Montezuma
Creek around 6 am MDT Sunday, cresting between Bluff and Mexican
Hat Sunday afternoon and peaking at Mexican Hat by 7 pm Sunday
evening around 31 feet. The San Juan River will rise above flood
stage Sunday morning and continue to rise Sunday afternoon to
moderate flood stage, peaking just below major flood stage at
Mexican Hat by 7 pm Sunday evening.
- This includes the following streams and drainages...
San Juan River
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Mexican Hat, Tselakai Dezza, Bluff, Halchita, Montezuma Creek and
Aneth.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become
unstable and unsafe.

10/23/2026

The FLOOD WARNING continues through Friday morning.

As of 10:45 PM Thursday, the upper Dolores River was near the ACTION STAGE (1 ft below flood stage) below Rico at the Montelores county line, and ABOVE ACTION STAGE at Dolores. These are the highest flows we've seen on the upper Dolores in many years.

All rivers in the region are running high. The Animas (in La Plata County) is expected to reach FLOOD STAGE soon; Main Street Bridge is probably impassable. The upper San Juan (in Archuleta County) is at FLOOD STAGE and expected to reach MAJOR FLOOD STAGE.

09/18/2026

The upper Dolores was briefly above 400 CFS, the minimum recommended flow for small boats (kayaks, packrafts, etc.). Minimum flow levels are arbitrary and subjective (we've done it at 200 CFS.) The river may come up more if it continues raining upstream.

There is a river-wide hazard just above Big Rock, a partially submerged fence (see post from Dolores River Boating Advocates).

09/16/2026

09/12/2026