Paonia Reservoir water level — Colorado
Paonia Reservoir in Colorado was last measured at 6,373.54 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:00 AM (UTC-06:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−2.4 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 197 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−2.4 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Aug 31, 2026 — a 89-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: USGS site 09131495 · USACE SPK/Paonia, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
About this gauge's record
This site's drainage basin covers approximately 257 sq mi of contributing watershed. USACE's continuous elevation record for this project begins in 2013 (2 tracked series for this project).
The dam behind Paonia Reservoir
Paonia Reservoir is held back by Paonia Dam (also recorded as Paonia Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 199 ft high and running 770 ft along its crest , built across COLORADO RIVER in Gunnison County , near SOMERSET . It was completed in 1962 , and is owned by BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (a federal owner) , to a design credited to BUREAU OF RECLAMATION.
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.
Its spillway is ungated: once the pool reaches the crest, water leaves on its own and the operator cannot hold it back. The spillway opening is 209 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate);uncontrolled.
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 357 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 23,230 acre-ft against a normal storage of 17,461 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 12,570 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by DWR.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record CO01691 , filed by Bureau of Reclamation — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USGS Water Services and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Paonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford Reservoir | CO | 6,500.72 ft | 36 km |
| Vega Reservoir | CO | 7,926.97 ft | 51 km |
| Fruit Growers Reservoir | CO | 5,463.92 ft | 54 km |
| Crystal Reservoir | CO | — | 54 km |
| Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir | CO | 7,423.08 ft | 55 km |
| Morrow Point | CO | — | 57 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Paonia Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 2:00 AM (UTC-06:00), the pool elevation was 6,373.54 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Paonia 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 USGS site 09131495 · USACE SPK/Paonia, 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.