Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir water level
Reservoir, Colorado, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 3,557 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir is far below normal for mid-October, with the lake level at 9,613.55 ft.
That puts it 22.75 ft below the median of 9,636.30 ft for mid-October, based on 20 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 9,632.23 ft (−18.68 ft).
It has dropped 1.71 ft over the past week. With the water still dropping, the shoreline keeps moving out. In the last month it has stayed between 9,613.55 ft and 9,634.94 ft.
Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.
Compared with 20 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 9,636.30 ft22.75 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 9,632.03 ft – 9,638.48 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (20 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 9,632.23 ft−18.68 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 9,613.55 ft – 9,634.94 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 9,613.78 ft – 9,643.44 ft
On the water at Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir
A receding shoreline opens up beaches but also uncovers hazards: stumps, rocks and soft mud that are usually well under water.
Wear a life jacket on the water. Most boating deaths involve people who were not wearing one.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.29 in.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes ReservoirReservoir | 9,186.10 ft | Low | 2.6 mi | |
| Arkansas River near LeadvilleRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 4.39 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| Turquoise Lake and Sugar LoafReservoir | 9,833.35 ft | Very low | 10 mi | |
| Ef Arkansas River at Us Highway 24, near LeadvilleRiver gauge, Ef Arkansas River | 13.5 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Roaring Fork River above Lost Man Creek near AspenRiver gauge, Roaring Fork River | 3.8 cfs | High | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Taylor River at Taylor ParkRiver gauge, Taylor River | 1.31 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 20 mi |
| Texas Creek at Taylor ParkRiver gauge, Texas Creek | 20.2 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Missouri Creek near Gold ParkRiver gauge, Missouri Creek | 1.1 cfs | Low | −0.1 cfs | 21 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir compare with last year?
It is 18.68 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9,632.23 ft.
What is a normal level for Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 9,636.30 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 9,632.03 ft and 9,638.48 ft, based on 20 years of records.
Is Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir really 9,613.55 ft deep?
No. 9,613.55 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 Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir today?
On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 9,613.55 ft. Down 1.71 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir rising or falling?
Down 1.71 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 20 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:419(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.10220, -106.35330(WGS84)- Update interval
- once a day
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 9,613.55 ft | 2026-10-17 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 3,557 acre‑ft | 2026-10-17 06:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir (usbr:419). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/mount-elbert-forebay-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