This page in our free multimedia library features photos of low flows in the Colorado River in Grand Junction on April 22, 2026.
The Colorado River is struggling early in the runoff season in Colorado’s Grand Valley. Heavy diversion for agricultural and municipal use combined with record low snowpack diminished flows through the city of Grand Junction in late April 2026. This section, known as the 15-Mile Reach, has persistent flow problems due to upstream dams and diversions that have been exacerbated by dry conditions.
To read more about this section of the Colorado River and efforts to keep it flowing, check out this story from Aspen Journalism’s Heather Sackett.
| Date | April 22, 2026 |
| Location | Grand Junction, Colorado (map) |
| Credit | Luke Runyon/The Water Desk |
| Rights | Free to reuse under Creative Commons license. |
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