Chatfield Reservoir Water Level
Colorado · South Platte River
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Water level history
About Chatfield Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir is a reservoir on the South Platte River in Colorado, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 5444 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Chatfield Reservoir's water level
"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers targets when Chatfield Reservoir is completely filled — 5444 feet above sea level. Above that line the Corps deliberately keeps empty "flood storage" to absorb heavy rain, so the lake rarely sits far above 5444 ft for long. A reading a few feet under full is usually just the normal operating band rather than a sign of drought.
Chatfield Reservoir fills on spring runoff from mountain snowpack, peaks in early summer, and then falls through the rest of the year as water is released for irrigation and downstream demand. A low reading in late summer is the normal end of that cycle; a low reading in June usually means a thin snow year.
The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Chatfield Reservoir, so they show how today compares over that record rather than an all-time extreme. The 12-month and 5-year chart views make the trend and the lake's usual seasonal shape easy to see.
Chatfield Reservoir — frequently asked
What is the current water level of Chatfield Reservoir?
The gauge at the top of this page shows Chatfield Reservoir's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).
What is full pool for Chatfield Reservoir?
Chatfield Reservoir's full summer pool is 5444 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.
Who manages Chatfield Reservoir?
Chatfield Reservoir is operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the South Platte River.
Where is Chatfield Reservoir located?
Chatfield Reservoir is in Colorado, on the South Platte River.
Why is Chatfield Reservoir low right now?
Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowers the pool for flood storage, power, or water supply — and recover after rain and snowmelt. The history chart above shows the recent trend.
What are the record high and low levels for Chatfield Reservoir?
The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Chatfield Reservoir.
Other lakes near Chatfield Reservoir
- Cherry Creek ReservoirCO
- Blue Mesa ReservoirCO
- Lemon ReservoirCO
- Vallecito ReservoirCO
- Paonia ReservoirCO
- Ridgway ReservoirCO
See current levels for all 7 Colorado lakes and reservoirs →
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