Vallecito Dam & Reservoir water level — Colorado
Vallecito Dam & Reservoir in Colorado was last measured at 7,620.66 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 (−16.8 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 34,263 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−16.8 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/Vallecito, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
About this gauge's record
USACE's continuous elevation record for this project begins in 2013 (2 tracked series for this project).
The dam behind Vallecito Dam & Reservoir
Vallecito Dam & Reservoir is held back by Vallecito Dam (also recorded as Vallecito Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 162 ft high and running 4,010 ft along its crest , built across LOS PINOS RIVER in La Plata County , near BAYFIELD . It was completed in 1941 , and is owned by BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (a federal owner) , to a design credited to BUREAU OF RECLAMATION.
Its recorded primary purpose is fish and wildlife pond — it is managed for habitat rather than yield . It also serves fish and wildlife pond;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 125 ft wide. Its outlet works use tainter (radial)3.
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 2,803 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 136,200 acre-ft against a normal storage of 129,700 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 30,000 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by DWR.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record CO01695 , 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 →)
How Vallecito 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Reservoir | CO | 8,090.48 ft | 7 km |
| Rio Grande Reservoir | CO | — | 47 km |
| Navajo Reservoir | NM | 6,013.41 ft | 65 km |
| Continental Reservoir | CO | — | 65 km |
| Platoro Reservoir | CO | 9,987.05 ft | 92 km |
| Silver Jack Reservoir | CO | 8,856.69 ft | 95 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Vallecito Dam & Reservoir?
- As of Aug 29, 2026, 6:00 AM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 7,620.66 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Vallecito 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/Vallecito, 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.