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List of largest reservoirs in Colorado

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Coordinates: 38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)
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A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.
The location of the State of Colorado in the United States of America.

This is a list of the largest reservoirs in the state of Colorado. All thirty-nine reservoirs that contain greater than 40,000 acre-feet (49 million cubic meters) are included in the list. Most of the larger reservoirs in the state are owned by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and, to a lesser extent, the Corps of Engineers. Additionally, a number of these reservoirs are owned by private companies for flood control and irrigation purposes. The largest reservoir entirely contained in Colorado is Blue Mesa Reservoir, with a capacity of 829,500 acre⋅ft (1.0 billion m3). The total storage of the reservoirs on this list is 3,804,458 acre⋅ft (4.7 billion m3), although not all is allocated for use by Colorado.

Reservoirs

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Key
† denotes reservoir not entirely in Colorado
‡ denotes that reservoir is offstream and fed by canals

List

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Rank Name County(s) Coordinates Volume[n 1] (acre-feet) Volume (km3) Elevation[n 2] Inflow[n 3] Dam(s)[n 4] Image
1 Navajo Reservoir Archuleta, Rio Arriba†, San Juan† 36°49′12″N 107°36′12″W / 36.82000°N 107.60333°W / 36.82000; -107.60333[1] 1,708,600[2] 2.1075 6,089 San Juan Navajo Dam
2 Blue Mesa Reservoir Gunnison 38°28′31″N 107°17′16″W / 38.47528°N 107.28778°W / 38.47528; -107.28778[3] 829,500[4] 1.2032 7,519 Gunnison River Blue Mesa Dam
3 John Martin Reservoir Bent 38°03′59″N 102°57′16″W / 38.06639°N 102.95444°W / 38.06639; -102.95444[5] 603,500[6] 0.7444 3,870 Arkansas River John Martin Dam
4 Lake Granby Grand 40°08′32″N 105°50′54″W / 40.14222°N 105.84833°W / 40.14222; -105.84833[7] 539,758[8] 0.6658 8,280 Colorado River Granby Dam
5 McPhee Reservoir Montezuma 37°34′26″N 108°33′29″W / 37.57389°N 108.55806°W / 37.57389; -108.55806[9] 381,100[10] 0.4701 6,929 Dolores River McPhee Dam
6 Pueblo Reservoir Pueblo 38°15′59″N 104°44′17″W / 38.26639°N 104.73806°W / 38.26639; -104.73806[11] 349,940[12] 0.4317 4,899 Arkansas River Pueblo Dam
7 Dillon Reservoir Summit 39°37′04″N 106°03′20″W / 39.61778°N 106.05556°W / 39.61778; -106.05556[13] 257,304[14] 0.3174 9,022 Blue River Dillon Dam
8 Bonny Reservoir (Drained, 2011) Yuma 39°37′16″N 102°10′53″W / 39.62111°N 102.18139°W / 39.62111; -102.18139[15] 165,238[16][n 5] 0.2038 3,710 South Fork Republican River Bonny Dam
9 Horsetooth Reservoir Larimer 40°31′45″N 105°08′51″W / 40.52917°N 105.14750°W / 40.52917; -105.14750[18] 156,735[19] 0.1933 5,430 Colorado River via Colorado-Big Thompson Project‡ Dixon Canyon, Spring Canyon, Soldier Canyon, Horsetooth[20]
10 Green Mountain Reservoir Summit 39°52′44″N 106°18′20″W / 39.87889°N 106.30556°W / 39.87889; -106.30556[21] 153,639[22] 0.1895 7,950 Blue River Green Mountain Dam
11 Twin Lakes Reservoir Lake 39°04′51″N 106°19′15″W / 39.08083°N 106.32083°W / 39.08083; -106.32083[23] 141,000[24] 0.1739 9,200 Lake Creek Twin Lakes Dam
12 Sanchez Reservoir Costilla 37°06′32″N 105°24′50″W / 37.10889°N 105.41389°W / 37.10889; -105.41389[25] 137,850[26] 0.1271 8,261 Ventero Creek Sanchez Dam
13 Turquoise Lake Lake 39°15′39″N 106°21′59″W / 39.26083°N 106.36639°W / 39.26083; -106.36639[27] 129,398[28] 0.1956 9,869 Boustead Tunnel‡ [29] Sugar Loaf Dam
14 Vallecito Reservoir La Plata 37°22′59″N 107°33′47″W / 37.38306°N 107.56306°W / 37.38306; -107.56306[30] 125,400[10] 0.1547 7,671 Los Pinos River Vallecito Dam
15 Morrow Point Reservoir Gunnison, Montrose 38°26′46″N 107°31′19″W / 38.44611°N 107.52194°W / 38.44611; -107.52194[31] 117,025[32] 0.1443 7,160 Gunnison River Morrow Point Dam
16 Carter Lake Reservoir Larimer 40°19′56″N 105°13′07″W / 40.33222°N 105.21861°W / 40.33222; -105.21861[33] 112,230[34] 0.1384 5,759 Colorado River via Colorado-Big Thompson Project‡ Carter Lake Dam
17 Taylor Park Reservoir Gunnison 38°49′36″N 106°35′38″W / 38.82667°N 106.59389°W / 38.82667; -106.59389[35] 106,210[36] 0.1310 9,337 Taylor River Taylor Park Dam
18 Ruedi Reservoir Pitkin, Eagle 39°21′53″N 106°48′54″W / 39.36472°N 106.81500°W / 39.36472; -106.81500[37] 102,373[38] 0.1263 7,766 Fryingpan River Ruedi Dam
19 Nee Gronda Reservoir Kiowa 38°18′13″N 102°45′24″W / 38.30361°N 102.75667°W / 38.30361; -102.75667[39] 98,660[40] 0.1217 3,878 Arkansas River via inlet canal‡ natural depression
20 Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir Park 38°54′50″N 105°29′50″W / 38.91389°N 105.49722°W / 38.91389; -105.49722[41] 97,780[40] 0.1209 8,566 South Platte River Elevenmile Canyon Dam
21 Williams Fork Reservoir Grand 40°01′33″N 106°12′50″W / 40.02583°N 106.21389°W / 40.02583; -106.21389[42] 96,822[43] 0.1194 7,808 Williams Fork Williams Fork Dam
22 Cherry Creek Reservoir Arapahoe 39°38′35″N 104°51′27″W / 39.64306°N 104.85750°W / 39.64306; -104.85750[44] 95,960[40] 0.1184 5,551 Cherry Creek Cherry Creek Dam
23 Nee Noshe Reservoir Kiowa 38°20′26″N 102°41′39″W / 38.34056°N 102.69417°W / 38.34056; -102.69417[45] 94,850[40] 0.1170 3,924 Arkansas River via inlet canal‡ Nee Noshe Dam
24 Ridgway Reservoir Ouray 38°13′48″N 107°45′13″W / 38.23000°N 107.75361°W / 38.23000; -107.75361[46] 84,230[47] 0.1024 6,699 Uncompahgre River Ridgway Dam
25 Cheesman Lake Douglas, Jefferson 39°12′31″N 105°16′36″W / 39.20861°N 105.27667°W / 39.20861; -105.27667[48] 79,060[49] 0.0975 6,847 South Platte River Cheesman Dam
26 North Sterling Reservoir Logan 40°46′36″N 103°16′50″W / 40.77667°N 103.28056°W / 40.77667; -103.28056[50] 74,590[51] 0.0920 4,071 South Platte River via inlet canal‡ North Sterling Dam
27 Adobe Creek Reservoir Bent, Kiowa 38°16′20″N 103°14′46″W / 38.27222°N 103.24611°W / 38.27222; -103.24611[52] 70,000[40] 0.0863 4,131 Adobe Creek via inlet canal‡
28 Wolford Mountain Reservoir Grand 40°07′45″N 106°24′41″W / 40.12917°N 106.41139°W / 40.12917; -106.41139[53] 65,985[51] 0.0814 7,405 Muddy Creek (Colorado) Wolford Mountain Dam
29 Riverside Reservoir Weld 40°20′15″N 104°15′33″W / 40.33750°N 104.25917°W / 40.33750; -104.25917[54] 65,008[55] 0.0802 4,511 South Platte River via inlet canal
30 Platoro Reservoir Conejos 37°20′32″N 106°33′23″W / 37.34222°N 106.55639°W / 37.34222; -106.55639[56] 59,570[57] 0.0735 9,977 Conejos River Platoro Dam
31 Spinney Mountain Reservoir Park 38°58′33″N 105°37′55″W / 38.97583°N 105.63194°W / 38.97583; -105.63194[58] 53,873[51] 0.0665 8,691 South Platte River
32 Rio Grande Reservoir Hinsdale 37°43′10″N 107°16′50″W / 37.71944°N 107.28056°W / 37.71944; -107.28056 51,110[40] 0.0630 9,400 Rio Grande Rio Grande Dam
33 Boyd Lake Larimer 40°25′39″N 105°01′55″W / 40.42750°N 105.03194°W / 40.42750; -105.03194[59] 49,048[55] 0.0605 4,961 Big Thompson River via inlet canal Boyd Lake Dam
34 Two Buttes Reservoir Baca, Prowers 37°38′07″N 102°33′03″W / 37.63528°N 102.55083°W / 37.63528; -102.55083[60] 48,720[40] 0.0601 4,232 Two Buttes Creek Two Buttes Dam
35 Santa Maria Reservoir Mineral 37°48′06″N 107°05′35″W / 37.80167°N 107.09306°W / 37.80167; -107.09306[61] 43,500[62] 0.0537 9,488 North Clear Creek via inlet canal none
36 Homestake Reservoir Pitkin, Eagle 39°21′43″N 106°27′59″W / 39.36194°N 106.46639°W / 39.36194; -106.46639[63] 42,822[64] 0.0528 10,266 Middle Fork Homestake Creek Homestake Project Dam
37 Gross Reservoir Boulder 39°57′00″N 105°21′38″W / 39.95000°N 105.36056°W / 39.95000; -105.36056[65] 41,920[55] 0.0517 7,290 South Boulder Creek Gross Dam
38 Rampart Reservoir El Paso 38°58′51″N 104°58′12″W / 38.98083°N 104.97000°W / 38.98083; -104.97000[66] 41,000[67] 0.0510 8,006 West Monument Creek Rampart Dam
39 Lemon Reservoir La Plata 37°23′43″N 107°39′43″W / 37.39528°N 107.66194°W / 37.39528; -107.66194[68] 39,792[69] 0.0491 8,130 Florida River Lemon Dam

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ When available, volume given is the maximum flood pool, not the operational or live storage capacity.
  2. ^ Elevations listed are in feet, and indicated the elevation of reservoir at full pool.
  3. ^ Where multiple sources fill a reservoir, the largest inflow will be listed. If a reservoir is off-river, source river will be listed.
  4. ^ In the case of reservoirs with multiple dams (such as Horsetooth Reservoir), all will be listed if resources allow.
  5. ^ Because of the 1942 Republican River Compact,[17] Kansas was able to force Colorado and Nebraska to make up for water that had been previously owed. As a result, the reservoir is now dry, and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future.

References

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  1. ^ "Navajo Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-11-13. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  2. ^ "Navajo Dam". United States Bureau of Reclamation. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  3. ^ "Blue Mesa Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  4. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation. "Water Operations: Blue Mesa Reservoir". Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  5. ^ "John Martin Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  6. ^ United States Geological Survey - Water Resources of Colorado (2004-04-28). "Arkansas River Basin". Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  7. ^ "Lake Granby". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  8. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Lake Granby Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  9. ^ "McPhee Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1990-02-01. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  10. ^ a b United States Bureau of Reclamation (2014-12-30). "San Juan River Basin". Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  11. ^ "Pueblo Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1992-11-01. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  12. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2009-04-17). "Pueblo Reservoir Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  13. ^ "Dillon Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  14. ^ Denver Water (2014). "Dillon Reservoir". Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  15. ^ "Bonny Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  16. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-02-01). "Bonny Reservoir Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  17. ^ Matt Flener (2012-03-02). "Bonny Lake drained, thousands of fish die". Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  18. ^ "Horsetooth Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  19. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Horsetooth Reservoir Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  20. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2013-03-29). "Dixon Canyon Dam". Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  21. ^ "Green Mountain Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1990-04-01. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  22. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Green Mtn. Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  23. ^ "Twin Lakes Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  24. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Twin Lakes Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  25. ^ "Sanchez Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  26. ^ United States Geological Survey (1991). "National Water-Quality Assessment Program -- The Rio Grande Valley" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  27. ^ "Turquoise Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  28. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Turquoise Lake Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  29. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2013-04-04). "Fryingpan-Arkansas Project". Archived from the original on 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  30. ^ "Vallecito Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  31. ^ "Morrow Point Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  32. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation. "Water Operations: Morrow Point Reservoir". Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  33. ^ "Carter Lake Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  34. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Carter Lake Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  35. ^ "Taylor Park Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  36. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2014-12-31). "Gunnison River Basin". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  37. ^ "Ruedi Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  38. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2012-10-04). "Ruedi Reservoir Allocations" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  39. ^ "Neegronda Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g United States Geological Survey (1966). "Reservoirs in the United States" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  41. ^ "Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  42. ^ "Williams Fork Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  43. ^ Denver Water (2015). "Williams Fork Reservoir". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  44. ^ "Cherry Creek Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  45. ^ "Nee Noshe Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1994-09-01. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  46. ^ "Ridgway Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1989-12-01. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  47. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (1999). "Dallas Creek Project" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  48. ^ "Cheesman Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  49. ^ Denver Water (2015). "Cheesman Reservoir". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  50. ^ "North Sterling Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  51. ^ a b c Bureau of Land Management (2000-07-24). "Significant and High Hazard Dam Authorizations" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  52. ^ "Adobe Creek Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  53. ^ "Wolford Mountain Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  54. ^ "Riverside Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  55. ^ a b c Colorado Water Initiative. "The South Platte River and Alluvial Aquifer: Major Reservoirs and Restricted Dams" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  56. ^ "Platoro Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  57. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2009-03-26). "Platoro Dam". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  58. ^ "Spinney Mountain Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1992-07-01. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  59. ^ "Boyd Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  60. ^ "Two Buttes Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  61. ^ "Santa Maria Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  62. ^ Colorado Water Conservation Board (2013-03-08). "Canal Systems Rehabilitation". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  63. ^ "Homestake Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  64. ^ Colorado Water Science Center (2014-07-23). "Water Resources of the Upper Arkansas River Basin". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  65. ^ "Gross Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  66. ^ "Rampart Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  67. ^ "Rampart". National Inventory of Dams. April 12, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  68. ^ "Lemon Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  69. ^ United States Bureau of Reclamation (2015-01-01). "San Juan River Basin". Retrieved 2015-01-02.
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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)

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