Colorado Reservoirs

Water Levels • Capacity • Storage
September 21 2023

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colorado Reservoir Report

September 21 2023


The history of reservoirs and dams in the USA is closely tied to the country's development and growth. Major river systems like the Colorado, Columbia, and Missouri have been extensively dammed to provide water for irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and recreation. Many of these dams were constructed in the mid-20th century, during a period of rapid infrastructure development, and have since played an essential role in the country's economy and society.

The US has a vast network of dams and reservoirs, with over 90,000 dams across the country, including 2,500 major dams. Many of these dams are located on major river systems, such as the Colorado River, where they have significant hydrological impacts on the river's flow and ecosystem. Dams can also have important climatic impacts, influencing the amount of water available for irrigation, and potentially affecting regional climates. For example, the construction of large reservoirs in arid regions like the Colorado River basin can lead to increased evaporation rates, reducing the amount of water available for other uses. Additionally, climate change may exacerbate existing hydrological and climatic concerns, potentially leading to more frequent and severe droughts and floods in certain regions.

Location Observation 24hr Change (%) Percent Normal (%) Elevation (ft)
Teller Reservoir Near Stone City
Colorado • ID 07099233 		-999,999 ft None None 5477.96
Trinidad Lake Near Trinidad
Colorado • ID 07124400 		6,187 ft 0 100 6233.53
John Martin Reservoir At Caddoa
Colorado • ID 07130000 		3,806 ft 0 100 3837.56
Wolford Mtn Reservoir Nr Kremmling
Colorado • ID 09041395 		7,483 ft 0 100 7500
Rifle Gap Reservoir Near Rifle
Colorado • ID 09091900 		5,947 ft 0 100 5908.49
Vega Reservoir Near Collbran
Colorado • ID 09096100 		7,959 ft 0 100 7990.25
Taylor Park Reservoir At Taylor Park
Colorado • ID 09108500 		9,315 ft 0 100 9333.39
Silver Jack Reservoir Near Cimarron
Colorado • ID 09125800 		8,855 ft -0.01 100 8796
Crawford Reservoir Near Crawford
Colorado • ID 09129550 		6,526 ft -0.01 100 6549.99
Paonia Reservoir Near Bardine
Colorado • ID 09131495 		6,399 ft -0.02 100 6448.48
Fruit Growers Reservoir Near Orchard City
Colorado • ID 09143600 		5,467 ft -0.01 100 5473.55
Ridgway Reservoir Near Ridgway
Colorado • ID 09147022 		6,846 ft 0 100 6871
Vallecito Reservoir Near Bayfield
Colorado • ID 09353000 		7,627 ft 0 100 7652.24
Lemon Reservoir Near Durango Co
Colorado • ID 09362800 		8,105 ft -0.01 100 8160.22
Cucharas Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100001 		59 acre-ft 0 48 5776.17
Dillon Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100002 		242,307 acre-ft -0.14 100 9021.13
Marys Lake
Colorado • ID 100003 		645 acre-ft -3.18 89 8064.03
Granby Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100010 		493,784 acre-ft -0.17 116 8291.8
John Martin Reservoir At Caddoa
Colorado • ID 100017 		24,452 acre-ft -1.47 27 3837.6
Pueblo Reservoir Near Pueblo
Colorado • ID 100031 		219,591 acre-ft -0.2 152 4850
Ruedi Reservoir Nr Basalt
Colorado • ID 100032 		86,615 acre-ft -0.27 98 7533.51
Olympus Dam At Estes Park
Colorado • ID 100038 		2,394 acre-ft 1.15 94 7466.02
Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100049 		16,955 acre-ft 0 99 8365
Williams Fork Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100053 		88,740 acre-ft -0.32 110 7736.45
Carter Lake
Colorado • ID 100065 		107,202 acre-ft -0.03 185 5766.56
Flatiron Reservoir Nr Loveland
Colorado • ID 100081 		547 acre-ft 2.22 99 5486
Green Mountain Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100089 		127,233 acre-ft -0.9 104 7960
Horsetooth Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100091 		122,081 acre-ft -0.35 149 5429.68
Meredith Reservoir (Content)
Colorado • ID 100100 		31,402 acre-ft -0.31 200 4254.06
Pinewood Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100113 		849 acre-ft -2.86 49 6570.33
Willow Creek Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100118 		8,753 acre-ft 0.48 100 8130
Homestake Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100120 		34,767 acre-ft 0.02 91 10396.22
Grand Lake
Colorado • ID 100156 		836 acre-ft 0 106 8380.79
Turquoise Lake At Sugarloaf Dam Near Leadville Co
Colorado • ID 100163 		84,985 acre-ft -0.61 83 9747
Mount Elbert Forebay
Colorado • ID 100257 		7,597 acre-ft -4.14 92 9650
Twin Lakes Reservoir
Colorado • ID 100275 		125,142 acre-ft 0.74 111 9169.52
Dillon Reservoir
Colorado • ID 1998 		242,307 acre-ft -0.14 100 9023
Granby Reservoir
Colorado • ID 1999 		493,784 acre-ft -0.17 116 8284
Green Mountain Reservoir
Colorado • ID 2000 		127,233 acre-ft -0.9 104 7940
Ruedi Reservoir
Colorado • ID 2002 		86,615 acre-ft -0.27 98 7749
Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Colorado • ID 2003 		16,955 acre-ft 0 99 8372
Williams Fork Reservoir
Colorado • ID 2005 		88,740 acre-ft -0.32 110 7808
Platoro Reservoir
Colorado • ID 2688 		36,588 acre-ft -0.17 184 9972
Lake Nighthorse
Colorado • ID 3083 		112,864 acre-ft -0.04 110 6891
Taylor Park Reservoir
Colorado • ID 912 		79,398 acre-ft -0.39 106 9321
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Colorado • ID 913 		656,131 acre-ft -0.33 106 7304
Morrow Point Reservoir
Colorado • ID 914 		110,574 acre-ft -0.08 100 7052
Crystal Reservoir
Colorado • ID 915 		16,321 acre-ft -0.02 105 6758
Vega Reservoir
Colorado • ID 924 		15,686 acre-ft -1.26 159 7986
Vallecito Reservoir
Colorado • ID 933 		64,944 acre-ft -1.04 109 7613
Lemon Reservoir
Colorado • ID 934 		17,866 acre-ft -0.77 97 8150
Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Colorado • ID 935 		5,236 acre-ft -1.04 111 7844
Silver Jack Reservoir
Colorado • ID 939 		1,178 acre-ft -16 28 8934
Paonia Reservoir
Colorado • ID 945 		3,222 acre-ft -7.74 110 6450
Ridgway Reservoir
Colorado • ID 948 		58,973 acre-ft 0.13 94 6861
Crawford Reservoir
Colorado • ID 951 		5,973 acre-ft -1.51 150 6565
Fruitgrowers Reservoir
Colorado • ID 955 		251 acre-ft -9.72 38 5475
Mcphee Reservoir
Colorado • ID 958 		315,011 acre-ft -0.16 123 6760
Rifle Gap Reservoir
Colorado • ID 961 		8,869 acre-ft -0.76 174 5943

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Largest Reservoirs

By water storage capacity

The USA is home to many of the largest dams in the world, providing essential services such as water storage, hydropower generation, and flood control. Among them, Oroville Dam stands out as the tallest dam in the United States, located in northern California. Another famous dam is the Hoover Dam, located on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. It is a major tourist attraction and an engineering marvel of the modern era, providing hydropower and water storage for millions of people.

Other notable dams in the USA include the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, which is the second-highest concrete arch dam in the country, and the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, which is the largest electric power-producing facility in the USA. These dams are a critical component of the country's infrastructure, providing essential services for the economy, society, and the environment.

Reservoir Storage Capacity (acre-ft)
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Colorado • ID 913 		656,131 acre-ft

Drought Levels

By water storage capacity

The number and distribution of dams and reservoirs in the USA have been significantly impacted by climate change. The changing climate has led to changes in precipitation patterns, increased evaporation rates, and more frequent and severe droughts and floods in certain regions. These factors have influenced the management and operations of dams and reservoirs across the country.

Reservoir Storage Capacity (acre-ft) Percent of Normal (%)

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