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Mcphee Reservoir water level

Reservoir, Colorado, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Surface elevation

6,864.24ft Up 1.82 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
173,057 acre‑ft
6,875 6,900

History

6,8606,8806,900ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 166,8606,8806,900ftOct 12Oct 14Oct 16
6,8606,8806,900ftSep 19Sep 25Oct 2Oct 9Oct 166,8606,8806,900ftSep 19Oct 2Oct 16
6,8606,8806,9006,920ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20266,8606,8806,9006,920ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
6,8606,8806,9006,920ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20266,8606,8806,9006,920ftNov 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
6,8606,8806,9006,920ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20266,8606,8806,9006,920ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

At 6,864.24 ft, Mcphee Reservoir is below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 6,893.53 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the lake level is 29.29 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 6,867.31 ft, a difference of −3.07 ft.

The water is rising: up 1.82 ft over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 6,859.50 ft and 6,864.24 ft.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
6,893.53 ft29.29 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
6,863.27 ft – 6,907.30 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year
6,867.31 ft−3.07 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
6,859.50 ft – 6,864.24 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
6,858.69 ft – 6,877.09 ft

Swimming and boating at Mcphee Reservoir

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.19 in.

17 Sat 61° 35° – Wind 8 mph
18 Sun 64° 42° – Wind 8 mph
19 Mon 63° 43° 0.00 in Wind 15 mph
20 Tue 60° 45° 0.02 in Wind 15 mph
21 Wed 67° 47° 0.16 in, 68% Wind 19 mph
22 Thu 58° 50° 0.61 in, 92% Wind 22 mph
23 Fri 53° 38° 0.12 in, 92% Wind 19 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:26 AM Sunset 06:34 PM Daylight 11 hr, 8 min First quarter 45%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Dolores River at DoloresRiver gauge, Dolores River 3.35 ft Below flood stage −0.11 ft 5.2 mi
Lost Canyon Creek near DoloresRiver gauge, Lost Canyon Creek 2.14 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 8 mi
Mud Creek at State Highway 32, near CortezRiver gauge, Mud Creek 1.5 cfs Low −0.1 cfs 17 mi
McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon near CortezRiver gauge, McElmo Creek 11.6 cfs Very low −3.4 cfs 17 mi
Jackson Gulch ReservoirReservoir 7,802.17 ft High 18 mi
Dolores River below RicoRiver gauge, Dolores River 2.25 ft Below flood stage −0.12 ft 27 mi
McElmo Creek near Colorado-Utah State LineRiver gauge, McElmo Creek 17.6 cfs Low −8.9 cfs 30 mi
Mancos River near TowaocRiver gauge, Mancos River 11.0 cfs Normal −4.0 cfs 37 mi

Questions and answers

Is Mcphee Reservoir higher than last year?

No, it is 3.07 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6,867.31 ft.

What is a normal level for Mcphee Reservoir in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6,893.53 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6,863.27 ft and 6,907.30 ft, based on 36 years of records.

Is Mcphee Reservoir really 6,864.24 ft deep?

No. 6,864.24 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Mcphee Reservoir today?

On Oct 16, 2026, the surface elevation was 6,864.24 ft. Up 1.82 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Mcphee Reservoir rising or falling?

Up 1.82 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Mcphee Reservoir normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes a new reading once a day. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Station code
usbr:410 (Agency page)
Coordinates
37.53968, -108.54219 (WGS84)
Update interval
once a day
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 6,864.24 ft 2026-10-16 07:00 Provisional
Water stored 173,057 acre‑ft 2026-10-16 07:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Mcphee Reservoir (usbr:410). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/mcphee-reservoir

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer