List of largest reservoirs of Colorado
This is a list of the largest reservoirs in the state of Colorado. All thirty-eight reservoirs that contain greater than 40,000 acre-feet (.0493 km3) are included in the list. Most of the larger reservoirs in the state are owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and, to a lesser extent, the Corps of Engineers. Additionally, a number of these reservoirs are owned by private companies for flood control and irrigation purposes. The largest reservoir entirely contained in Colorado is Blue Mesa Reservoir, with a capacity of 829,500 acre-feet (1.2032 km3). The total storage of the reservoirs on this list is 3,763,458 acre-feet (4.642 km3), although not all is allocated for use by Colorado.
Key |
denotes reservoir not entirely in Colorado |
denotes that reservoir is offstream and fed by canals |
List
Rank |
Name |
County(s) |
Coordinates |
Volume[n 1] (acre-feet) |
Volume (km3) |
Elevation[n 2] |
Inflow[n 3] |
Dam(s)[n 4] |
Image |
1 |
Navajo Reservoir |
Archuleta, Rio Arriba , San Juan![dagger](../I/m/Dagger-14-plain.png) |
36°49′12″N 107°36′12″W / 36.82000°N 107.60333°W / 36.82000; -107.60333[1] |
1,708,600[2] |
2.1075 |
6,089 |
San Juan |
Navajo Dam |
![](../I/m/Dh110911-192255.jpg) |
2 |
Blue Mesa Reservoir |
Gunnison |
38°28′31″N 107°17′16″W / 38.47528°N 107.28778°W / 38.47528; -107.28778[3] |
829,500[4] |
1.2032 |
7,519 |
Gunnison River |
Blue Mesa Dam |
![](../I/m/Blue_Mesa_Reservoir.jpg) |
3 |
John Martin Reservoir |
Bent |
38°03′59″N 102°57′16″W / 38.06639°N 102.95444°W / 38.06639; -102.95444[5] |
603,500[6] |
0.7444 |
3,870 |
Arkansas River |
John Martin Dam |
![](../I/m/John_Martin_Reservoir_-_March_2014.JPG) |
4 |
Lake Granby |
Grand |
40°08′32″N 105°50′54″W / 40.14222°N 105.84833°W / 40.14222; -105.84833[7] |
539,758[8] |
0.6658 |
8,280 |
Colorado River |
Granby Dam |
![](../I/m/LakeGranby.JPG) |
5 |
McPhee Reservoir |
Montezuma |
37°34′26″N 108°33′29″W / 37.57389°N 108.55806°W / 37.57389; -108.55806[9] |
381,100[10] |
0.4701 |
6,929 |
Dolores River |
McPhee Dam |
![](../I/m/Mcphee_Reservoir_ahjdf.jpg) |
6 |
Pueblo Reservoir |
Pueblo |
38°15′59″N 104°44′17″W / 38.26639°N 104.73806°W / 38.26639; -104.73806[11] |
349,940[12] |
0.4317 |
4,899 |
Arkansas River |
Pueblo Dam |
![](../I/m/Pueblo_Reservoir.jpg) |
7 |
Dillon Reservoir |
Summit |
39°37′04″N 106°03′20″W / 39.61778°N 106.05556°W / 39.61778; -106.05556[13] |
257,304[14] |
0.3174 |
9,022 |
Blue River |
Dillon Dam |
![](../I/m/Dillon_Reservoir_(4843910255).jpg) |
8 |
Bonny Reservoir (Drained, 2011) |
Yuma |
39°37′16″N 102°10′53″W / 39.62111°N 102.18139°W / 39.62111; -102.18139[15] |
165,238[16][n 5] |
0.2038 |
3,710 |
South Fork Republican River |
Bonny Dam |
![](../I/m/Bonny_Reservoir_-_Spring_2014.JPG) |
9 |
Horsetooth Reservoir |
Larimer |
40°31′45″N 105°08′51″W / 40.52917°N 105.14750°W / 40.52917; -105.14750[18] |
156,735[19] |
0.1933 |
5,430 |
Colorado River via Colorado-Big Thompson Project![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
Dixon Canyon, Spring Canyon, Soldier Canyon, Horsetooth[20] |
![](../I/m/HorsetoothReservoir.jpg) |
10 |
Green Mountain Reservoir |
Summit |
39°52′44″N 106°18′20″W / 39.87889°N 106.30556°W / 39.87889; -106.30556[21] |
153,639[22] |
0.1895 |
7,950 |
Blue River |
Green Mountain Dam |
![](../I/m/Green_Mountain_Reservoir.JPG) |
11 |
Twin Lakes Reservoir |
Lake |
39°04′51″N 106°19′15″W / 39.08083°N 106.32083°W / 39.08083; -106.32083[23] |
141,000[24] |
0.1739 |
9,200 |
Lake Creek |
Twin Lakes Dam |
![](../I/m/Twin_Lakes%2C_Colorado.jpg) |
12 |
Sanchez Reservoir |
Costilla |
37°06′32″N 105°24′50″W / 37.10889°N 105.41389°W / 37.10889; -105.41389[25] |
137,850[26] |
0.1271 |
8,261 |
Ventero Creek |
Sanchez Dam |
|
13 |
Turquoise Lake |
Lake |
39°15′39″N 106°21′59″W / 39.26083°N 106.36639°W / 39.26083; -106.36639[27] |
129,398[28] |
0.1956 |
9,869 |
Boustead Tunnel [29] |
Sugar Loaf Dam |
![](../I/m/Mt._Elbert.jpg) |
14 |
Vallecito Reservoir |
La Plata |
37°22′59″N 107°33′47″W / 37.38306°N 107.56306°W / 37.38306; -107.56306[30] |
125,400[10] |
0.1547 |
7,671 |
Los Pinos River |
Vallecito Dam |
![](../I/m/Vallecito_Res.png) |
15 |
Morrow Point Reservoir |
Gunnison, Montrose |
38°26′46″N 107°31′19″W / 38.44611°N 107.52194°W / 38.44611; -107.52194[31] |
117,025[32] |
0.1443 |
7,160 |
Gunnison River |
Morrow Point Dam |
![](../I/m/HERMIT'S_REST_OVERLOOK%2C_CURECANTI_NATIONAL_RECREATION_AREA.jpg) |
16 |
Carter Lake Reservoir |
Larimer |
40°19′56″N 105°13′07″W / 40.33222°N 105.21861°W / 40.33222; -105.21861[33] |
112,230[34] |
0.1384 |
5,759 |
Colorado River via Colorado-Big Thompson Project![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
Carter Lake Dam |
![](../I/m/3-carter-Lake-Larimer-County.JPG) |
17 |
Taylor Park Reservoir |
Gunnison |
38°49′36″N 106°35′38″W / 38.82667°N 106.59389°W / 38.82667; -106.59389[35] |
106,210[36] |
0.1310 |
9,337 |
Taylor River |
Taylor Park Dam |
![](../I/m/Taylor_Park_Dam_and_Reservoir.jpg) |
18 |
Ruedi Reservoir |
Pitkin, Eagle |
39°21′53″N 106°48′54″W / 39.36472°N 106.81500°W / 39.36472; -106.81500[37] |
102,373[38] |
0.1263 |
7,766 |
Fryingpan River |
Ruedi Dam |
![](../I/m/Ruedi_Reservoir_and_Aspen_Yacht_Club_marina.jpg) |
19 |
Nee Gronda Reservoir |
Kiowa |
38°18′13″N 102°45′24″W / 38.30361°N 102.75667°W / 38.30361; -102.75667[39] |
98,660[40] |
0.1217 |
3,878 |
Arkansas River via inlet canal![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
natural depression |
|
20 |
Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir |
Park |
38°54′50″N 105°29′50″W / 38.91389°N 105.49722°W / 38.91389; -105.49722[41] |
97,780[40] |
0.1209 |
8,566 |
South Platte River |
Elevenmile Canyon Dam |
|
21 |
Williams Fork Reservoir |
Grand |
40°01′33″N 106°12′50″W / 40.02583°N 106.21389°W / 40.02583; -106.21389[42] |
96,822[43] |
0.1194 |
7,808 |
Williams Fork |
Williams Fork Dam |
|
22 |
Cherry Creek Reservoir |
Arapahoe |
39°38′35″N 104°51′27″W / 39.64306°N 104.85750°W / 39.64306; -104.85750[44] |
95,960[40] |
0.1184 |
5,551 |
Cherry Creek |
Cherey Creek Dam |
![](../I/m/USACE_Cherry_Creek_dam_and_reservoir.jpg) |
23 |
Nee Noshe Reservoir |
Kiowa |
38°20′26″N 102°41′39″W / 38.34056°N 102.69417°W / 38.34056; -102.69417[45] |
94,850[40] |
0.1170 |
3,924 |
Arkansas River via inlet canal![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
Nee Noshe Dam |
|
24 |
Ridgway Reservoir |
Ouray |
38°13′48″N 107°45′13″W / 38.23000°N 107.75361°W / 38.23000; -107.75361[46] |
84,230[47] |
0.1024 |
6,699 |
Uncompahgre River |
Ridgway Dam |
![](../I/m/RidgwayReservoir.jpg) |
25 |
Cheesman Lake |
Douglas, Jefferson |
39°12′31″N 105°16′36″W / 39.20861°N 105.27667°W / 39.20861; -105.27667[48] |
79,060[49] |
0.0975 |
6,847 |
South Platte River |
Cheesman Dam |
![](../I/m/Cheesman_Dam_and_Lake_CO-A-0046.jpg) |
26 |
North Sterling Reservoir |
Logan |
40°46′36″N 103°16′50″W / 40.77667°N 103.28056°W / 40.77667; -103.28056[50] |
74,590[51] |
0.0920 |
4,071 |
South Platte River via inlet canal![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
North Sterling Dam |
|
27 |
Adobe Creek Reservoir |
Bent, Kiowa |
38°16′20″N 103°14′46″W / 38.27222°N 103.24611°W / 38.27222; -103.24611[52] |
70,000[40] |
0.0863 |
4,131 |
Adobe Creek via inlet canal![double-dagger](../I/m/Double-dagger-14-plain.png) |
|
|
28 |
Wolford Mountain Reservoir |
Grand |
40°07′45″N 106°24′41″W / 40.12917°N 106.41139°W / 40.12917; -106.41139[53] |
65,985[51] |
0.0814 |
7,405 |
Muddy Creek (Colorado) |
Wolford Mountain Dam |
|
29 |
Riverside Reservoir |
Weld |
40°20′15″N 104°15′33″W / 40.33750°N 104.25917°W / 40.33750; -104.25917[54] |
65,008[55] |
0.0802 |
4,511 |
South Platte River via inlet canal |
|
|
30 |
Platoro Reservoir |
Conejos |
37°20′32″N 106°33′23″W / 37.34222°N 106.55639°W / 37.34222; -106.55639[56] |
59,570[57] |
0.0735 |
9,977 |
Conejos River |
Platoro Dam |
![](../I/m/Platoro_Dam_and_Reservoir.jpg) |
31 |
Spinney Mountain Reservoir |
Park |
38°58′33″N 105°37′55″W / 38.97583°N 105.63194°W / 38.97583; -105.63194[58] |
53,873[51] |
0.0665 |
8,691 |
South Platte River |
|
|
32 |
Rio Grande Reservoir |
Hinsdale |
37°43′10″N 107°16′50″W / 37.71944°N 107.28056°W / 37.71944; -107.28056 |
51,110[40] |
0.0630 |
9,400 |
Rio Grande |
Rio Grande Dam |
|
33 |
Boyd Lake |
Larimer |
40°25′39″N 105°01′55″W / 40.42750°N 105.03194°W / 40.42750; -105.03194[59] |
49,048[55] |
0.0605 |
4,961 |
Big Thompson River via inlet canal |
Boyd Lake Dam |
![](../I/m/Boyd_Lake_Frozen_in_January_2013.JPG) |
34 |
Two Buttes Reservoir |
Baca, Prowers |
37°38′07″N 102°33′03″W / 37.63528°N 102.55083°W / 37.63528; -102.55083[60] |
48,720[40] |
0.0601 |
4,232 |
Two Buttes Creek |
Two Buttes Dam |
|
35 |
Santa Maria Reservoir |
Mineral |
37°48′06″N 107°05′35″W / 37.80167°N 107.09306°W / 37.80167; -107.09306[61] |
43,500[62] |
0.0537 |
9,488 |
North Clear Creek via inlet canal |
none |
|
36 |
Homestake Reservoir |
Pitkin County, Colorado, Eagle |
39°21′43″N 106°27′59″W / 39.36194°N 106.46639°W / 39.36194; -106.46639[63] |
42,822[64] |
0.0528 |
10,266 |
Homestake Creek |
Homestake Project Dam |
|
37 |
Gross Reservoir |
Boulder |
39°57′00″N 105°21′38″W / 39.95000°N 105.36056°W / 39.95000; -105.36056[65] |
41,920[55] |
0.0517 |
7,290 |
South Boulder Creek |
Gross Dam |
![](../I/m/Gross_Reservoir.JPG) |
38 |
Lemon Reservoir |
La Plata |
37°23′43″N 107°39′43″W / 37.39528°N 107.66194°W / 37.39528; -107.66194[66] |
39,792[67] |
0.0491 |
8,130 |
Florida River |
Lemon Dam |
![](../I/m/Lemon_dam.jpg) |
See also
Notes
- ↑ When available, volume given is the maximum flood pool, not the operational or live storage capacity.
- ↑ Elevations listed are in feet, and indicated the elevation of reservoir at full pool.
- ↑ Where multiple sources fill a reservoir, the largest inflow will be listed. If a reservoir is off-river, source river will be listed.
- ↑ In the case of reservoirs with multiple dams (such as Horsetooth Reservoir), all will be listed if resources allow.
- ↑ Because of the 1942 Republican River Compact,[17] Kansas was able to force Colorado and Nebraska to make up for water that had been previously owed. As a result, the reservoir is now dry, and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future.
References
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