Rifle Gap Reservoir
As of August 9, 2026, Rifle Gap Reservoir is holding 1,774 acre-ft of water — 18% of normal storage for this date. Storage data refreshed throughout the day.
Rifle Gap Reservoir
Rifle Gap Reservoir is located in Garfield County, Colorado and was created in 1967 as a water storage project for the Colorado River Basin. The reservoir is fed by the Rifle River and East Fork Parachute Creek, providing water for irrigation and domestic use. It has a storage capacity of 14,657 acre-feet and a surface area of 350 acres. The reservoir is surrounded by Rifle Gap State Park, which offers recreational activities such as fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. The area receives an average of 23 inches of snowfall per year, which contributes to the reservoir's water supply. The reservoir is also used for hydroelectric power generation, with a capacity of 10 megawatts. Overall, Rifle Gap Reservoir is an important source of water and recreation for the surrounding communities.
Daily levels at Rifle Gap 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 Rifle Gap Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford | 179 cfs | → |
| West Divide Creek Near Raven | 0 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs | 533 cfs | → |
| White River Above Coal Creek | 19 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 68 cfs | → |
About Rifle Gap Reservoir
What is the water level at Rifle Gap Reservoir right now?
As of August 9, 2026, Rifle Gap Reservoir is holding 1,774 acre-ft, about 18% of normal for this date. Pool elevation and the year-over-year trend are shown above.
Is Rifle Gap Reservoir high or low right now?
Compare the percent-of-normal figure on this page: above 100% means storage is higher than the historical average for the date (a wet year), below 100% means lower (a dry year or drought). The daily-levels chart shows the current trend.
Where does the data for Rifle Gap 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 below 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.
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