Vallecito Reservoir reservoir
Vallecito Reservoir
Vallecito Reservoir is a popular recreational destination located in southwestern Colorado. The reservoir was formed in 1941 after the construction of the Vallecito Dam on the Pine River. The reservoir has a capacity of 125,000 acre-feet and is used for irrigation, municipal water supply, and recreation. Surface flow from the Pine River and nearby creeks provide water to the reservoir, while snowpack from the surrounding San Juan Mountains also contributes to the water supply. The reservoir is a popular destination for fishing, boating, camping, and hiking, and is surrounded by the San Juan National Forest. The reservoir also supports local agriculture, primarily in the form of hay farming. Despite being impacted by drought in recent years, Vallecito Reservoir remains an important source of water and recreation for the surrounding community.
Daily levels at Vallecito 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 Vallecito Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vallecito Creek Near Bayfield | 396 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 13 cfs | → |
| Los Pinos River Near Ignacio | 1 cfs | → |
| Animas River Above Tacoma | 929 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 782 cfs | → |
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango | 777 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vallecito Reservoir.
Campgrounds
- Old Timers - Vallecito Reservoir
- Graham Creek Campground
- Graham Creek
- North Canyon Campground
- North Canyon - Vallecito Reservoir
- Pine Point - Vallecito Reservoir
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Flint Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Sierra Vandera--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
Track Vallecito 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 Vallecito Reservoir
Where does the data for Vallecito 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 Vallecito Reservoir.