Palo Duro Reservoir
Hansford County, Texas2,410 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Public access
- Limited data
Palo Duro Reservoir in Hansford County, Texas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 318 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 139.6 µg/L. Surface area: 2410 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Area
- 2,410 acres
- Phosphorus
- 318 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 139.6 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Palo Duro Reservoir’s letter
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Why Palo Duro Reservoir has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Palo Duro Reservoir, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by TCEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Palo Duro Reservoir is a 2,410-acre lake in Hansford County, Texas. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TCEQ, last sampled 2025-03-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Palo Duro Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water2,410 acres
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Palo Duro Reservoir
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 318 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 139.6 µg/L. TSI 83.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 318 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 139.6 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 83 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM from gauge 07233550 (Palo Duro Res nr Spearman, TX). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Palo Duro Reservoir water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,410 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Palo Duro Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Palo Duro State ParkPublic
- Palo Duro Lake State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Palo Duro Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.05 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +31 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +56.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Palo Duro Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Palo Duro Dam (completed 1991), built primarily for water supply on the Palo Duro Creek; earth-type dam, 128 ft tall and 3,450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,410 ac
- Normal storage
- 60,900 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 278,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 614 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PALO DURO RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TX06400 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Palo Duro Reservoir
Palo Duro Reservoir has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hansford County
Frequently asked questions about Palo Duro Reservoir
Where is Palo Duro Reservoir?
- Palo Duro Reservoir is a lake in Hansford County, Texas. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Palo Duro Reservoir?
- Palo Duro Reservoir in Hansford County, Texas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 318 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 139.6 µg/L. Surface area: 2410 acres.
Is Palo Duro Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water level at Palo Duro Reservoir?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Palo Duro Reservoir is 2826.34 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:45 PM at gauge 07233550. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Palo Duro Reservoir?
- Palo Duro Reservoir has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Palo Duro State Park, Palo Duro Lake State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Palo Duro Reservoir across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TCEQMAIN14 samples · 2020–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory