Crystal Reservoir
Montrose County, Colorado301 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Limited data
Crystal Reservoir in Montrose County, Colorado has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 15.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Surface area: 301 acres.
- Clarity
- 15.4 ft
- Area
- 301 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Crystal Reservoir’s letter
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Crystal Reservoir is a 301-acre mesotrophic lake in Montrose County, Colorado. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Crystal Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15.4 ft of visibility
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 15.4 ft down. Phosphorus 15.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.1 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 301 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Crystal Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Crystal Reservoir
- East Portal Campground4.9 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 Crystal Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.305 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crystal Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crystal Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Gunnison River; concrete-type dam, 323 ft tall and 620 ft long.
- Surface area
- 301 ac
- Normal storage
- 25,236 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 30,726 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,965.01 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO00387 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Montrose County
Nearby Lakes in Montrose County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Reservoir
Where is Crystal Reservoir?
- Crystal Reservoir is a lake in Montrose County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Reservoir?
- Crystal Reservoir in Montrose County, Colorado has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 15.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Surface area: 301 acres.
Is Crystal Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Crystal Reservoir?
- Crystal Reservoir has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including East Portal 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 Crystal Reservoir across LakeQuality
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Other Grade A Lakes in Colorado
Mesotrophic Lakes in Colorado
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX18 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- 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
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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