Lake Colorado City water level — Texas
Lake Colorado City in Texas was last measured at 2,059.22 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00) (USGS Water Services). Over its recent trend window the level has been falling (−0.8 ft). This reading is provisional and subject to revision.
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↓Falling
−0.8 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 08123000, 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 345 sq mi of contributing watershed.
The dam behind Lake Colorado City
Lake Colorado City is held back by Lake Colorado City Dam , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 85 ft high and running 4,500 ft along its crest , built across MORGAN CREEK in Mitchell County . It was completed in 1949 , and is owned by VISTRA CORP (a private owner) , to a design credited to FREESE AND NICHOLS.
Its recorded primary purpose is recreation — holding a stable pool through the season is an operating goal, so a level well off normal in summer is unusual rather than routine . It also serves recreation;other.
It is founded on 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 1,220 ft wide. Its outlet works use uncontrolled2;valve1.
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 06/18/2014.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 1,610 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 93,132 acre-ft against a normal storage of 31,484 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 150,001 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by TCEQ.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record TX01693 , filed by Texas — 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 Lake Colorado City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Creek Reservoir | TX | 2,062.83 ft | 9 km |
| Lake J. B. Thomas | TX | 2,227.09 ft | 34 km |
| Moss Creek Lake | TX | 2,331.33 ft | 39 km |
| E. V. Spence Reservoir | TX | 1,842.98 ft | 64 km |
| Oak Creek Reservoir | TX | 1,974.19 ft | 70 km |
| Lake Alan Henry Reservoir | TX | 2,209.36 ft | 81 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Lake Colorado City?
- As of Aug 31, 2026, 3:00 AM (UTC-05:00), the pool elevation was 2,059.22 ft (datum NGVD29), provisional and subject to revision. See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Lake Colorado City 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 08123000, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Texas
See every lake tracked in Texas, or read the methodology behind these figures.