Paonia Reservoir reservoir
Paonia Reservoir
Paonia Reservoir is located in Delta County, Colorado, and serves as a primary water source for the surrounding agricultural communities. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 14,674 acre-feet and receives water from both surface flow and snowpack. The North Fork of the Gunnison River is the primary surface flow provider, while the Grand Mesa snowpack also contributes to the reservoir's water levels. The reservoir was constructed in 1962 by the Bureau of Reclamation and is operated and maintained by the Paonia Water Conservancy District. The water is primarily used for irrigation on the surrounding farmlands, but it also serves as a popular recreational site for boating, fishing, and camping during the summer months.
Daily levels at Paonia Reservoir
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 17
Inflow
cfs · code 29
Pool Elevation
ft · code 49
Total Release
cfs · code 42
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Paonia Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 77 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset | 467 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek At Highway 133 At Mouth Nr Bowie | 4 cfs | → |
| Minnesota Creek Near Paonia | 4 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paonia Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Bear Road Gunnison County
- Grand Avenue Delta County
- Gunnison Forks
- Delta County
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Ponderosa Campground Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Williams Creek Dispersed Camping Area
- Paonia State Park
- Erickson Springs Campground- Paonia Rd
- Erickson Springs
- Lost Lake Campground-Paonia Rd
- Lost Lake
Fishing spots
- Paonia Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Lake Irwin
- Meridian Lake
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Overland Reservoir
Track Paonia Reservoir in the Snoflo app
Save this reservoir as a favorite and set push alerts when storage crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 80% of normal").
About Paonia Reservoir
Where does the data for Paonia Reservoir come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Paonia Reservoir.