Haviland Lake
La Plata County, Colorado61 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- 18 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Haviland Lake in La Plata County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Surface area: 61 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.8 ft
- Max depth
- ~18 ft est.
- Area
- 61 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Haviland Lake’s letter
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Haviland Lake is a 61-acre mesotrophic lake in La Plata County, Colorado with an estimated average depth of about 18 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in La Plata County, Haviland Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2023-08-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Haviland Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.8 ft. Phosphorus 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.5 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~18 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Colorado has not published bathymetry for Haviland 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
- Haviland Lake State Wildlife AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Haviland Lake
- Haviland Lake Cg0.3 km
- Chris Park1.4 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 Haviland Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Haviland Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Haviland Lake (completed 1927), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Elbert Creek-Tr; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 580 ft long.
- Surface area
- 61 ac
- Normal storage
- 526 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,025 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO01062 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in La Plata County
Nearby Lakes in La Plata County
Frequently asked questions about Haviland Lake
Where is Haviland Lake?
- Haviland Lake is a lake in La Plata County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Haviland Lake?
- Haviland Lake in La Plata County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Surface area: 61 acres.
Is Haviland Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Haviland Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Haviland Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 18 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 61 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Haviland Lake?
- Haviland Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Haviland Lake State Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Haviland Lake?
- Haviland Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Haviland Lake Cg, Chris Park. 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 Haviland Lake across LakeQuality
4 thermal springs within 22.5 mi, nearest Pinkerton Hot Springs
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
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment-WQCD
21COL001_WQX12 samples · 2023
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles