Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir water level — Colorado
Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir in Colorado was last measured at 7,423.08 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 29, 2026, 6:00 AM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−12.8 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 292,846 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−12.8 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 3, 2026 and Aug 29, 2026 — a 87-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USACE SPK/Blue Mesa, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir
Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir is held back by Blue Mesa Dam (also recorded as Blue Mesa Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 390 ft high and running 785 ft along its crest , built across GUNNISON RIVER in Gunnison County , near AUSTIN . It was completed in 1966 , and is owned by BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (a federal owner) .
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;irrigation;recreation;hydroelectric.
Its spillway is gated, so the operator can hold the pool above the spillway crest and meter what leaves. The spillway opening is 55 ft wide. Its outlet works use roller1;tainter (radial)2;vertical lift2.
NID classes it high hazard potential. That describes what a failure would cost downstream — loss of life would be expected — and says nothing about how likely a failure is, or what condition the dam is in.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 9,180 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 938,469 acre-ft against a normal storage of 748,430 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 33,700 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by DWR.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record CO01675 , filed by Bureau of Reclamation — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USACE CWMS Data and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
Other gauges at this site
A second gauge reports at this same structure. Its readings are listed here rather than on a separate page, because it measures the same water.
| Gauge | Source | Elevation | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Reservoir | USACE SPK/Crystal | — | 15,689 acre-ft |
How Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir compares nearby
All 4 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling, suggesting a regional pattern rather than an operation specific to this dam.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Reservoir | CO | — | 0 km |
| Morrow Point | CO | — | 18 km |
| Silver Jack Reservoir | CO | 8,856.69 ft | 31 km |
| Crawford Reservoir | CO | 6,500.72 ft | 36 km |
| Ridgway Reservoir | CO | 6,853.39 ft | 44 km |
| Paonia Reservoir | CO | 6,373.54 ft | 55 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir?
- As of Aug 29, 2026, 6:00 AM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 7,423.08 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir full right now?
- Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
- Where does this data come from?
- From USACE SPK/Blue Mesa, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Colorado
See every lake tracked in Colorado, or read the methodology behind these figures.