Outlook
Middle estimate, with the range the level has an 8 in 10 chance of landing in. The bars share one scale: change from today.
Rises are harder to call. Heavy rain in the watershed can push the lake above these ranges within days.
- Rain, past 7 days
- 0.2 in6 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 1.7 in43 mm normal 0.3 in9 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Lake Colorado City with the dam, level gauge and 4 public boat ramps.
- Dam
- Level gauge
- Public boat ramp
Ramp locations from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Whether a ramp is open depends on the lake level; check the operator.
Level and outlook
FeetMeters above sea level
- Measured
- Middle estimate
- 8 in 10 range
- Full pool
Show outlook as a table
| Date | Low end | Middle | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2 | 2058.6627.46 | 2058.8627.51 | 2059.1627.61 |
| Nov 9 | 2058.6627.45 | 2058.7627.49 | 2059.5627.73 |
| Nov 25 | 2058.4627.42 | 2058.7627.50 | 2060.7628.09 |
How well this outlook has done here
We tested the 2-week outlook on past years at this lake, as if made once a week with only what was known that day.
- On average it was off by
- 0.23 ft0.07 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.34 ft0.10 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 86% of 427 tests; the range is built to catch 8 in 10
The rise chance uses the same threshold for every lake: 1 ft (0.3048 m).
Connected lakes
Water from upstream lakes flows into this one; water released here flows on downstream.
Nearby lakes
Closest lakes in a straight line, with today's level.
- Champion Creek Reservoir6 mi9 km away · 2063.8 ft629.03 m · 45%
- Lake J. B. Thomas21 mi34 km away · 2226.3 ft678.59 m · 20%
- Lake Sweetwater37 mi59 km away · 2090.2 ft637.10 m · 16%
- Oak Creek Reservoir44 mi70 km away · 1973.2 ft601.44 m · 13%
- Lake Alan Henry50 mi81 km away · 2209.4 ft673.43 m · 73%
- Lake Abilene61 mi98 km away · 1990.8 ft606.81 m · 7%
About Lake Colorado City
Lake Colorado City is a reservoir on Morgan Creek in Mitchell County, built in 1949 near Colorado City. It is in the upper Colorado River basin, upstream of E. V. Spence Reservoir.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 2070.2 ft631.00 m
- Highest level since 1996
- 2072.1 ft631.58 m, Nov 2004
- Lowest level since 1996
- 2046.8 ft623.86 m, Apr 2015
- Surface area at normal pool
- 1,610 acres652 ha
- Conservation storage
- 30,758 acre-feet38 million m³
- Dam
- Lake Colorado City Dam, 1949
- River or creek
- Morgan Creek
- County
- Mitchell
- Owner
- Vistra Corp
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NGVD29).
Common questions
Is Lake Colorado City full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 2058.7 ft, 11.5 ft below full pool (2070.2 ft), holding 53% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 627.48 m, 3.52 m below full pool (631.00 m), holding 53% of its conservation storage.
Is Lake Colorado City going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 2058.6 ft and 2059.5 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is 10%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 627.45 m and 627.73 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is 10%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.
Where does this data come from?
Daily levels come from the Texas Water Development Board and lake operators. The outlook is our own statistical model, using recent levels and forecast rain over the watershed.