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SwedenShadow Mountain Lake water level
Lake, Colorado, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 16,836 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
At 8,366.61 ft, Shadow Mountain Lake is holding more water than usual for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 8,366.68 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.07 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 8,366.57 ft, a difference of +0.04 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.04 ft over the past week. The 30-day range is 8,366.59 ft – 8,366.74 ft.
Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.
Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8,366.68 ft0.07 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 8,366.49 ft – 8,366.75 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 8,366.57 ft+0.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 8,366.59 ft – 8,366.74 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 8,366.33 ft – 8,366.88 ft
Boating and fishing at Shadow Mountain Lake
Slightly high water rarely causes problems on the water itself, though some low-lying shoreline spots may be wet.
Conditions at the shore change with the level, so check with the agency that runs the lake before a trip.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.15 in.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River below Shadow Mountain ReservoirRiver gauge, Colorado River | 35.8 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 0.3 mi |
| Lake GranbyLake | 8,235.29 ft | Very low | 2.3 mi | |
| Grand LakeLake | 8,366.66 ft | High | 3.2 mi | |
| Willow Creek ReservoirReservoir | 8,116.94 ft | Low | 7 mi | |
| Willow Creek below Willow Creek ReservoirRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 2.35 ft | Below flood stage | −0.57 ft | 7 mi |
| Colorado River below Baker Gulch near Grand LakeRiver gauge, Colorado River | 4.10 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 8 mi |
| Andrews Creek-Loch Vale-RmnpRiver gauge | 0.8 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Colorado River at Windy Gap, near GranbyRiver gauge, Colorado River | 3.49 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 11 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Shadow Mountain Lake higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.04 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8,366.57 ft.
What is a normal level for Shadow Mountain Lake in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8,366.68 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 8,366.49 ft and 8,366.75 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Shadow Mountain Lake really 8,366.61 ft deep?
No. 8,366.61 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 Shadow Mountain Lake today?
On Oct 16, 2026, the surface elevation was 8,366.61 ft. Up 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Shadow Mountain Lake rising or falling?
Up 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Shadow Mountain Lake normal?
High 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:473(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.20720, -105.84170(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 | 8,366.61 ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 16,836 acre‑ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Shadow Mountain Lake (usbr:473). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/shadow-mountain-lake
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