Dowdy Lake
Larimer County, Colorado83 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #8 of 9 in the county
- 22 ft max depth
- Limited data
Dowdy Lake in Larimer County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Surface area: 83 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Max depth
- ~22 ft est.
- Area
- 83 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dowdy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dowdy Lake in Larimer 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 Dowdy Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dowdy Lake
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Colorado’s top lakes →
Watch Dowdy Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Dowdy Lake is a 83-acre mesotrophic lake in Larimer County, Colorado with an estimated average depth of about 22 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Larimer County, Dowdy Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2021-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Dowdy Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping2 public campgrounds 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.2 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~22 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~16 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Colorado has not published bathymetry for Dowdy Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Dowdy Lake
- Dowdy Lake0.9 km
- West Lake1.5 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 Dowdy Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dowdy Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dowdy Lake (completed 1962), built primarily for recreation on the N Lone Pine Cr-Tr; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 83 ac
- Normal storage
- 900 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,339 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO00132 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 9 lakes in Larimer County
Nearby Lakes in Larimer County
Frequently asked questions about Dowdy Lake
Where is Dowdy Lake?
- Dowdy Lake is a lake in Larimer County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dowdy Lake?
- Dowdy Lake in Larimer County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Surface area: 83 acres.
Is Dowdy Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Dowdy Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Dowdy Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 22 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 83 acres.
Are there campgrounds on Dowdy Lake?
- Dowdy Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Dowdy Lake, West Lake. 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 Dowdy Lake across LakeQuality
More Colorado Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Colorado
Mesotrophic Lakes in Colorado
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment-WQCD
21COL001_WQX18 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk depth measurement
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrogen in Water by Pyrolysis Detection
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles