Mount Elbert Forebay reservoir
Mount Elbert Forebay
Mount Elbert Forebay is a reservoir located in Lake County, Colorado. The reservoir was constructed by the City of Colorado Springs as a part of their water supply system. The forebay receives water from the Mount Elbert Power Plant, which is operated by Colorado Springs Utilities. The power plant diverts water from the South Fork of Lake Creek and the East Fork of Lake Creek. The reservoir is used to regulate the flow of water and to provide storage for hydroelectric power generation. The Mount Elbert Forebay is also used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. The surrounding area is also used for agricultural purposes, with many ranches and farms located nearby. The reservoir is also an important source of water for wildlife, including elk, deer, and many species of birds.
Daily levels at Mount Elbert Forebay
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 17
Pool Elevation
ft · code 49
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 Mount Elbert Forebay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Granite | 126 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Granite | 291 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Above Clear Creek Reservoir | 82 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta | 100 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Above Twin Lakes Reservoir | 162 cfs | → |
| Halfmoon Creek Near Malta | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mount Elbert Forebay.
⚓ Boat launches
- Cr 390 Chaffee County
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Ahra - Number 4 Rec Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
- Ahra - Railroad Bridge Rec Site
- Matchless Boating Site
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
- Clear Creek Reservoir
- Rich Creek
- Sunnyside Fishing Site
- Whistler Point
- Big Mac Fishing Site
- Deception Point Fishing Site
Track Mount Elbert Forebay 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 Mount Elbert Forebay
Where does the data for Mount Elbert Forebay 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 Mount Elbert Forebay.