Ouray County Lake Quality
Colorado, 2 lakes, measured by Colorado WQCD
Ouray County has 2 monitored lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. 1 of those lake carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's readings sit in the middle of the Colorado range, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow, under 50 feet, which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Ridgway Reservoir has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
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Quick Answers for Ouray County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Ridgway Reservoir — or check the official Colorado fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Ouray County
2 lakes · 1 ranked on readings, 1 without enough sampling1 lake ranked on readings · 1 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ridgway ReservoirOuray | 9.8 ft | 45 µg/L | 2.2 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| Lake OtonawandaOuray | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
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Source: the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. See data sources.