Ute Reservoir water level — New Mexico
Ute Reservoir in New Mexico was last measured at 3,784.41 ft (datum NAVD88), as of Aug 31, 2026, 1:30 AM (UTC-06:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.5 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- 177,300 acre-ft
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.5 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 07226800, 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 11,140 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Ute Reservoir
Ute Reservoir is held back by Ute Dam , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 132 ft high and running 6,570 ft along its crest , built across CANADIAN RIVER in Quay County , near LOGAN . It was completed in 1963 and modified in 1984;1984;1984;1984;1984 , and is owned by NEW MEXICO INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION (a state owner) , to a design credited to BECHTEL CORPORATION, BOR.
Its recorded primary purpose is water supply — delivering water to its customers comes first, so drawdown here follows demand as much as it follows rainfall . It also serves water supply;irrigation;recreation.
It is founded on rock. 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 840 ft wide. Its outlet works use valve0.
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 satisfactory — no deficiencies recognised for expected loading. That assessment is dated 03/26/2025.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 7,200 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 464,240 acre-ft against a normal storage of 222,500 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 705,000 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record NM00293 , filed by New Mexico — 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 Ute Reservoir compares nearby
4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conchas Lake | NM | 4,180.59 ft | 68 km |
| Lake Sumner | NM | 4,237.85 ft | 118 km |
| Santa Rosa Lake | NM | 4,694.24 ft | 119 km |
| Lake Meredith | TX | 2,889.37 ft | 176 km |
| Lake Maloya | NM | 7,509.01 ft | 201 km |
| Mackenzie Reservoir | TX | 3,018.96 ft | 203 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Ute Reservoir?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 1:30 AM (UTC-06:00), the pool elevation was 3,784.41 ft (datum NAVD88), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Ute 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 07226800, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in New Mexico
See every lake tracked in New Mexico, or read the methodology behind these figures.