Blue Mesa Reservoir
Gunnison County, ColoradoView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Blue Mesa Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County, Colorado — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Blue Mesa Reservoir are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Blue Mesa Reservoir
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Blue Mesa Reservoir is a mesotrophic lake in Gunnison County, Colorado. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2023-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Blue Mesa Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.9 µg/L. TSI 47. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Blue Mesa Reservoir
- East Elk Group Campground3.6 km
- Elk Creek Campground3.8 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Blue Mesa Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5653.45 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Gunnison County
Nearby Lakes in Gunnison County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Mesa Reservoir
Where is Blue Mesa Reservoir?
- Blue Mesa Reservoir is a lake in Gunnison County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Blue Mesa Reservoir?
- Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L.
Is Blue Mesa Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Blue Mesa Reservoir?
- Blue Mesa Reservoir has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including East Elk Group Campground, Elk Creek Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Blue Mesa Reservoir across LakeQuality
14.3 mi away · recorded at 106°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Colorado's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Colorado's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Curecanti?
Blue Mesa Reservoir is about 11 miles from Curecanti National Recreation Area. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Curecanti →More Colorado Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Colorado
Mesotrophic Lakes in Colorado
Where this data comes from
625 measurements from 17 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Colorado Water Science Center
USGS-CO423 samples · 2021–2023 - National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX202 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- HACH, sensor model 2100 N R-Off
- U.S. Geological Survey National Field Manual 7.4.1B Collecting Ancillary Data
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- Hach 2100N Turbidimeter
- Nutrients, wu, WCA,persulfate,CF
Monitoring station identifiers (17)
- USGS-382831107172600
- USGS-382829107122200
- USGS-382802107065401
- USGS-382850107054901
- USGS-382852107061701
- USGS-382848107041001
- USGS-382840107044401
- USGS-382829107064501
- USGS-382832107050801
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382856107050000
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382831107172600
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382829107122200
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382852107061701
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382829107064501
- 11NPSWRD_WQX-CURE_382832107050801
- USGS-382856107050000
- USGS-382852107054801
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles