Overview
Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water by volume - about 9,180 acres at full pool - on the Gunnison River west of Gunnison. Blue Mesa Dam (1960s) is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Colorado River Storage Project / Aspinall Unit, with recreation managed in Curecanti National Recreation Area. Blue Mesa is the uppermost and largest storage unit of the Aspinall Unit above Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs.
About 96-98 miles of shoreline wrap three connected basins (Iola, Cebolla, and Sapinero) with sagebrush hills and deep river channels. The reservoir stores water for power, Compact deliveries, and downstream Gunnison Canyon uses. Three named basins (Iola, Cebolla, Sapinero) fish differently as thermoclines and forage shift through summer.
Kokanee, lake trout, and other coldwater species make Blue Mesa a flagship Colorado fishery managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. NPS campgrounds, ramps, and marinas provide public access. Curecanti National Recreation Area campgrounds and boat ramps are the primary public gateways.
Full pool is about 7,519 feet (NAVD88). Seasonal drawdowns for power and storage can expose large flats; monitoring current lake levels is important for ramps, fishing, and camping around Curecanti. NAVD88 full-pool elevation 7,519.4 feet is the modern survey reference used in recent USGS reservoir studies.
Current Conditions
Blue Mesa Reservoir is currently 90.21 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 3.04 ft
- 30-day changeDown 10.55 ft
- Drought conditionsSevere Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Blue Mesa Reservoir is a 9,180-acre reservoir on the Gunnison River managed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; NPS Curecanti National Recreation Area.