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SAN JUAN AND DOLORES RIVER BASINS <br />wo major river systems define southwestern <br />Colorado: the San Juan and Dolores. <br />The San Juan River originates in the <br />mountain range bearing its name, coalescing <br />in the forested slopes and narrow valleys near Wolf <br />Creek Pass as it starts its descent southward into New <br />Mexico. By the time it crosses the state line, its waters <br />are already impounded in the sizeable confines of <br />Navajo Reservoir. On its journey, it will also pick =r <br />up waters from its major tributaries the Piedra, Rio <br />Blanco and Navajo River. <br />The Dolores River gathers its waters from <br />the snow -laden mountainsides of the Lizard Head Wilderness Area south of <br />Telluride. Not far away, the San Miguel River collects and flows north- <br />west, for the northern -most watershed in the basin. The San <br />Miguel flows all the way down to the state border before joining <br />up with the Dolores River as it makes a giant "U" around <br />the mountains and flows north and west into Utah. <br />I' In the southwestern corner, the Mancos, La <br />Plata, and Animas rivers also drain out of the <br />mountains and eventually join up with the San <br />Juan River. <br />On a larger scale, the SanJuan and Dolores are <br />part of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The <br />klL Dolores meets up with the Colorado <br />River just north of Moab, <br />nixes with the C <br />Ziver at Lake Po <br />southern Utah. ❑ <br />4 COLORADO FOUNDATION FOR WATER EDUCATION <br />