Lake Nighthorse reservoir
Lake Nighthorse
Lake Nighthorse is a man-made reservoir located in La Plata County, Colorado. The lake was created in 2009 as a water storage facility to provide year-round water supply to the nearby Durango city. The hydrology of the lake is primarily dependent on snowpack and surface flow from the Animas River, which contributes to about 90% of the water volume. The lake's water is also supplied from the Florida River and other tributaries. The agricultural and recreational uses of Lake Nighthorse are limited, and the lake is primarily used for fishing, boating, and swimming. The lake is stocked with several fish species, including kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass. The lake has become a popular destination for locals and visitors, providing an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities in a beautiful setting.
Daily levels at Lake Nighthorse
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 Lake Nighthorse -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango | 777 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 782 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At Hesperus | 58 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 13 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Oxford | -888 cfs | → |
| Florida River At Bondad | -888 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Nighthorse.
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- West Dolores---Source To Confluence With Mainstem
- Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Nf Boundary
Track Lake Nighthorse 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 Lake Nighthorse
Where does the data for Lake Nighthorse 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 Lake Nighthorse.