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Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin water level

Lake, Colorado, United States

Directions

Right now

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

6,880.28ft Up 0.15 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
112,525 acre‑ft
6,800 6,850

History

History
6,8006,850ftOct 14Oct 15Oct 16Oct 17Oct 196,8006,850ftOct 14Oct 16Oct 19
6,8006,850ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 12Oct 196,8006,850ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 19
6,7506,8006,850ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20266,7506,8006,850ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
6,8766,8786,8806,882ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20266,8766,8786,8806,882ftNov 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
6,7506,8006,850ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20266,7506,8006,850ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The lake level at Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin reads 6,880.28 ft, about where it usually sits at this time of year.

The median for mid-October is 6,880.13 ft, based on 19 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.15 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 6,880.61 ft, a difference of −0.33 ft.

It is on the way up, by 0.15 ft over the past week. The 30-day range is 6,880.02 ft – 6,880.33 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 19 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
6,880.13 ft0.15 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
6,794.10 ft – 6,880.85 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (19 years of records)
Same day last year
6,880.61 ft−0.33 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
6,880.02 ft – 6,880.33 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
6,879.75 ft – 6,881.90 ft

Boating and fishing at Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin

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.

20 Tue 62° 43° – Wind 6 mph
21 Wed 56° 47° 0.30 in, 49% Wind 13 mph
22 Thu 56° 49° 1.81 in, 100% Wind 12 mph
23 Fri 58° 46° 0.20 in, 100% Wind 9 mph
24 Sat 61° 44° 0.35 in, 51% Wind 19 mph
25 Sun 57° 41° 0.02 in, 51% Wind 8 mph
26 Mon 56° 40° – Wind 7 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:25 AM Sunset 06:29 PM Daylight 11 hr, 5 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Animas River below Durango Pump Plant near DurangoRiver gauge, Animas River 1,230 cfs Very high −20.0 cfs 3.0 mi
Animas River at DurangoRiver gauge, Animas River 3.59 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 4.3 mi
Animas River near Cedar HillRiver gauge, Animas River 5.83 ft Below flood stage ±0 13 mi
Hermosa Creek near HermosaRiver gauge, Hermosa Creek 141 cfs Very high −12.0 cfs 14 mi
Lemon Reservoir near DurangoReservoir, Lemon Reservoir 8,124.77 ft Very high +0.62 ft 18 mi
Lemon ReservoirReservoir 8,124.37 ft Very high 18 mi
Los Pinos River near IgnacioRiver gauge, Los Pinos River 49.5 cfs Normal +18.7 cfs 19 mi
Vallecito ReservoirReservoir 7,648.64 ft Very high 23 mi

Questions and answers

Is Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin higher than last year?

No, it is 0.33 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6,880.61 ft.

What is a normal level for Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6,880.13 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6,794.10 ft and 6,880.85 ft, based on 19 years of records.

Is Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin really 6,880.28 ft deep?

No. 6,880.28 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 Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin today?

On Oct 19, 2026, the surface elevation was 6,880.28 ft. Up 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin rising or falling?

Up 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 19 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:392 (Agency page)
Coordinates
37.22392, -107.91694 (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 6,880.28 ft 2026-10-19 07:00 Provisional
Water stored 112,525 acre‑ft 2026-10-19 07:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin (usbr:392). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/lake-nighthorse-and-ridges-basin

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.