Platoro Reservoir water level
Reservoir, Colorado, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 22,587 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
The lake level at Platoro Reservoir reads 9,987.31 ft, about where it usually sits at this time of year.
That puts it 1.16 ft above the median of 9,986.15 ft for mid-October, based on 11 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 9,995.64 ft (−8.33 ft).
It is on the way up, by 1.21 ft over the past week. The 30-day range is 9,986.08 ft – 9,987.96 ft.
Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.
Compared with 11 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 9,986.15 ft1.16 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 9,971.56 ft – 10,000.60 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (11 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 9,995.64 ft−8.33 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 9,986.08 ft – 9,987.96 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 9,986.08 ft – 9,994.86 ft
Boating and fishing at Platoro Reservoir
A lake in its usual range is what most ramps, docks and swimming areas are built for.
Conditions at the shore change with the level, so check with the agency that runs the lake before a trip.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan River above Turkey Creek near Pagosa SpringsRiver gauge, San Juan River | 5.69 ft | No reference yet | −0.14 ft | 19 mi |
| San Juan River at Pagosa SpringsRiver gauge, San Juan River | 5.96 ft | Below flood stage | −0.26 ft | 25 mi |
| Rio Chama above ChamaRiver gauge, Rio Chama | 1.70 ft | No reference yet | −0.07 ft | 28 mi |
| San Juan River near CarracasRiver gauge, San Juan River | 754 cfs | Very high | −151.0 cfs | 47 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Platoro Reservoir compare with last year?
It is 8.33 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9,995.64 ft.
What is a normal level for Platoro Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 9,986.15 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 9,971.56 ft and 10,000.60 ft, based on 11 years of records.
Is Platoro Reservoir really 9,987.31 ft deep?
No. 9,987.31 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 Platoro Reservoir today?
On Oct 16, 2026, the surface elevation was 9,987.31 ft. Up 1.21 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Platoro Reservoir rising or falling?
Up 1.21 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Platoro Reservoir normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 11 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:3512(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.34060, -106.56400(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 | 9,987.31 ft | 2026-10-16 07:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 22,587 acre‑ft | 2026-10-16 07:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Platoro Reservoir (usbr:3512). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/platoro-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