Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin water level
Lake, Colorado, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 112,525 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
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 0.11 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.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animas River below Durango Pump Plant near DurangoRiver gauge, Animas River | 1,240 cfs | Very high | −60.0 cfs | 3.0 mi |
| Animas River at DurangoRiver gauge, Animas River | 3.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 4.3 mi |
| Animas River near Cedar HillRiver gauge, Animas River | 5.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 13 mi |
| Hermosa Creek near HermosaRiver gauge, Hermosa Creek | 151 cfs | Very high | −9.0 cfs | 14 mi |
| Lemon Reservoir near DurangoReservoir, Lemon Reservoir | 8,124.36 ft | Very high | +0.64 ft | 18 mi |
| Lemon ReservoirReservoir | 8,123.74 ft | Very high | 18 mi | |
| Los Pinos River near IgnacioRiver gauge, Los Pinos River | 46.2 cfs | Normal | +1.1 cfs | 19 mi |
| Vallecito ReservoirReservoir | 7,648.05 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 18, 2026, the surface elevation was 6,880.28 ft. Up 0.11 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Lake Nighthorse and Ridges Basin rising or falling?
Up 0.11 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
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 6,880.28 ft | 2026-10-18 07:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 112,525 acre‑ft | 2026-10-18 07:00 | Provisional |
Download
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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.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer