Wolford Mountain Reservoir water level — Colorado
Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Colorado was last measured at 7,449.63 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 1:30 AM (UTC-06:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−9.9 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 23,130 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−9.9 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 09041395, 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 270 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Wolford Mountain Reservoir is held back by Ritschard (also recorded as Wolford Mountain Reservoir) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 126 ft high and running 1,910 ft along its crest , built across MUDDY CREEK in Grand County , near KREMMLING . It was completed in 1995 , and is owned by COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CAUSEY (a local government owner) , to a design credited to BOYLE ENGINEERING CORP.
Its recorded primary purpose is irrigation — the pool is drawn down across the growing season to serve water rights downstream, then refilled over winter . It also serves irrigation;water supply.
It is founded on rock;soil, with a earth core. 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 426 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate)1;valve6.
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. Its most recent condition assessment was fair: sound under normal loading, though a rare or extreme event could expose a deficiency. That assessment is dated 06/09/2022.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 1,550 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 84,639 acre-ft against a normal storage of 65,985 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 44,432 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by DWR.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record CO02788 , filed by Colorado — 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 Wolford Mountain Reservoir compares nearby
5 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also falling right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle Gap Reservoir | CO | 5,911.29 ft | 127 km |
| Taylor Park Reservoir at Taylor Park, Co | CO | 9,296.81 ft | 145 km |
| Paonia Reservoir | CO | 6,373.54 ft | 153 km |
| Vega Reservoir | CO | 7,926.97 ft | 155 km |
| Kettle Creek Dry Dam | CO | 6,545.68 ft | 188 km |
| Crawford Reservoir | CO | 6,500.72 ft | 188 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Wolford Mountain Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 1:30 AM (UTC-06:00), the pool elevation was 7,449.63 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Wolford Mountain 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 09041395, 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.