Celebrate the arrival of spring runoff on the Animas River and participate in our annual Predict the Peak Fundraiser by guessing the peak flow of the Animas!

It's a win-win, literally: every submission supports local river advocacy and you have a chance at a sweet prize!

THE GUESSING WINDOW FOR 2025 HAS CLOSED

MAKE A LOCAL IMPACT

What efforts will my donation support?

The Rivers Program at San Juan Citizens Alliance is dedicated to improving water quality and ecosystem health of all waters within the Animas River basin. We also work to improve stewardship practices and access opportunities along the Animas and its tributaries to work towards sustainable recreation use along the waterways we love. 

WHAT IS A PEAK FLOW?

Each spring, as snow melts from the jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountains, the Animas River swells with a pulse of water, bringing the highest streamflows of the year. This “peak flow” event is a treasured time for the river system, as well as for spectators who get to watch the river change from an ice-riddled stream to a roaring demon. Peak flow is not only a fun time to paddle the river, but it’s critical for the river’s health. High flows support the health of riparian ecosystems adjacent to the river, and create habitat for fish and aquatic species to thrive. Flooding brings nutrients, vegetation, and wood from the floodplain into the channel spurring invertebrate (bug) growth and creating diverse habitats for fishes.

Since the Animas River is a free-flowing system, the timing and volume of peak flow in the spring vary each year. Join us in this skill-based contest and use your research skills to predict the volumetric flow rate (commonly measured as cubic feet per second, or cfs) of the peak flow on the Animas River in 2025!

Bring on the spring floods!

WHAT DOES MY SUBMISSION CONTRIBUTE TO?

The proceeds from your guesses go directly towards the San Juan Citizens Alliance and our work protecting the Animas River.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY BY MAY 10th, 2025.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING PEAK RUNOFF IN EARLY TO MID-JUNE.

HOW DO I PREDICT THE PEAK?

Research current snowpack conditions to inform your prediction

Look at snowpack levels in the Animas River Basin. Check out the Interactive Map and the Current Snotel Snow Water Equivalent Map

Reference NOAA’s River Flow Projections and Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

Look at past trends

Check out the historical peak flow volumes and dates at the Animas River near Durango stream gage

Keep your eye on the weather

When dust on snow occurs, it can dramatically impact the volume and timing of peak flow. Stay informed on layer deposits to help your prediction.

Reference the extended forecast and be sure to look at the nighttime lows in higher elevations!

Try your hand at luck

Not sure where to start? Try a random math equation: Take your cost of monthly rent x 10 + age of your pet – number of Sprinter Vans you saw today ÷ number of days you went skiing this year = Your guess

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

A huge thank you to our generous sponsor, Osprey, for donating packs!

THE FINE PRINT

This is a contest based on science and skill.

RULES: The winners of this contest will be the top 3 entrants who predict the closest peak flow rate in cfs to the actual peak flow. Each prediction must be a whole number. If more than one entrant submits the same prediction, the person who submitted their entry at a later date will be contacted to change their prediction. If we are unable to confirm a changed prediction with an entrant who submitted a repeated value, we will bump the repeat entry by 1 cfs up, or down, depending on the nearest available value.

PEAK FLOW DETERMINATION: The correct prediction will be based on measurements from USGS stream gauge (Animas River at Durango, Site ID: 09361500) located near the Powerhouse Museum in Durango. San Juan Citizens Alliance will use measurements from this stream gauge to determine the closest 3 predictions. If the river peaks BEFORE our deadline, we will select winners at random.