Overview
Alcova Reservoir is a Bureau of Reclamation lake on the North Platte River southwest of Casper, Wyoming, completed in 1938 as part of the Kendrick Project. The dam diverts water into Casper Canal for irrigation and supports hydropower at Alcova Powerplant; recreation is a major secondary use. Only the top slice of Alcova's roughly 184,000 acre-foot capacity is active irrigation storage; most volume is inactive.
The reservoir is relatively compact - on the order of 2,400-2,500 acres at summer operating level - with about 25 miles of shoreline and hydraulic depth near 180 feet at the dam. Red rock canyon walls and a short riverine pool give it a scenic, intimate character below Pathfinder Reservoir. Canyon walls and a short ferry/boat run from the dam area create a scenic but compact recreation pool.
Anglers fish for trout and other species under Wyoming Game and Fish Department regulations. State park and Reclamation recreation facilities provide camping, ramps, and day use. Alcova and neighboring Pathfinder form a popular Casper-area weekend circuit for boaters and campers.
Reclamation typically holds summer elevations near 5,498-5,500 feet and draws the pool to about 5,488 feet for winter operations. Monitoring current lake levels is useful for ramps and shoreline access on this tightly operated forebay reservoir. The October-to-March hold near 5,488 feet is a predictable winter pattern in recent North Platte AOPs.
Current Conditions
Alcova Reservoir is currently 1.55 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.04 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.10 ft
- Drought conditionsExtreme Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Alcova Reservoir is a 2,470-acre reservoir on the North Platte River managed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.