Ridgway Reservoir Water Level

Colorado · Uncompahgre River

6,851.27ft
Reading: Sep 10, 2026
19.86 ft below full pool
6720 ft6871.13 ft (full)
Full pool
6871.13 ft
Vs full pool
−19.86 ft
Managed by
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Recent high
6,871.59 ft (2024)
Recent low
6,835.79 ft (2020)

Water level history

Loading water level history…
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS). Provisional data, subject to revision.

About Ridgway Reservoir

Ridgway Reservoir is a reservoir on the Uncompahgre River in Colorado, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Its full summer pool sits at 6871.13 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.

Understanding Ridgway Reservoir's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation targets when Ridgway Reservoir is completely filled — 6871.13 feet above sea level. That is the elevation Ridgway Reservoir reaches at the top of a good runoff year, not a level it is held at. Reservoirs like this one fill from winter storms and snowmelt and are then drawn down deliberately through the dry season, so the gap between today's reading and 6871.13 ft is normally the season rather than a shortage. Judge it against the same week last year, not against full.

Ridgway Reservoir fills on mountain snowmelt through spring and early summer, then declines through the irrigation season and into autumn. How high it gets is set by the winter snowpack rather than by summer rain, so a thin snow year shows up in the level all the way through to the following spring.

The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Ridgway 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.

Ridgway Reservoir — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Ridgway Reservoir?

The gauge at the top of this page shows Ridgway Reservoir's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS).

What is full pool for Ridgway Reservoir?

Ridgway Reservoir's full summer pool is 6871.13 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Ridgway Reservoir?

Ridgway Reservoir is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Uncompahgre River.

Where is Ridgway Reservoir located?

Ridgway Reservoir is in Colorado, on the Uncompahgre River.

Why is Ridgway Reservoir low right now?

Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 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 Ridgway Reservoir?

The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Ridgway Reservoir.

Other lakes near Ridgway Reservoir

See current levels for all 7 Colorado lakes and reservoirs →

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