The Uncompahgre River is a tributary of the Gunnison River , approximately 75 mi (121 km) long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States . Lake Como at 12,215 ft (3723m) in northern San Juan County , in the Uncompahgre National Forest in the northwestern San Juan Mountains is the headwaters of the river. It flows northwest past Ouray , Ridgway , Montrose , and Olathe and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in Delta .
4-680: The river forms Poughkeepsie Gulch and the Uncompahgre Gorge . The major tributaries are all creeks draining the northwest San Juan Mountains. There are two dams on the Uncompahgre River, a small diversion dam in the Uncompahgre Gorge, and Ridgway Dam below the town of Ridgway which forms Ridgway Reservoir . The river is used for irrigation in the Uncompahgre Valley . Additionally, water from
8-797: Is a deep mountain canyon formed by the Uncompahgre River and Red Mountain Creek in the Uncompahgre National Forest . It is located just south of Ouray , in Ouray County, Colorado . At the north end of the Gorge the Uncompahgre River flows into a deep box canyon which is home to Ouray Ice Park. Access to the gorge is via U.S. Highway 550 along the Million Dollar Highway which is cut through
12-726: The City of Montrose announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar river restoration project along the Uncompahgre, including $ 785,000 total grants from the Colorado Water Conservation Board . The project will enhance fishing habitats, provide bank stabilization, increase river access and fishing opportunities for the public. The public-private partnership includes Colorado Parks & Wildlife , Colorado Trout Unlimited , and fly fishing company Mayfly Outdoors . Uncompahgre Gorge The Uncompahgre Gorge
16-582: The Gunnison is diverted to the valley via the Gunnison Tunnel . The Uncompahgre is unnavigable except at high water. The name Uncompahgre ( / ʌ n k ʌ m ˈ p ɑː ɡ r eɪ / ) comes from the Ute word Uncompaghre , which loosely translates to "dirty water," "red lake," or "red water spring" and is likely a reference to the many hot springs in the vicinity of Ouray. In October 2020,
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