Red Bluff Reservoir
Reeves County, Texas7,337 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.8 µg/L. Surface area: 7337 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.9 ft
- Area
- 7,337 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 16.8 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Red Bluff Reservoir’s letter
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Red Bluff Reservoir is a 7,337-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Reeves County, Texas. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity 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 2025-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Red Bluff Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water7,337 acres
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)
Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 16.8 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:15 PM from gauge 08410000 (Red Bluff Res nr Orla, TX). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Red Bluff Reservoir water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7,337 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Red Bluff Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Red Bluff Dam ParkPublic
- Red Bluff ReservoirPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Red Bluff Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.27 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Red Bluff Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Red Bluff Dam (completed 1936), built primarily for irrigation on the Pecos River; earth-type dam, 106 ft tall and 9,320 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7,337 ac
- Normal storage
- 151,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 516,785 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,869 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- RED BLUFF WATER POWER CONTROL DISTRICT
All listed purposes: Irrigation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID TX02312 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Reeves County
Nearby Lakes in Reeves County
Frequently asked questions about Red Bluff Reservoir
Where is Red Bluff Reservoir?
- Red Bluff Reservoir is a lake in Reeves County, Texas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Red Bluff Reservoir?
- Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves County, Texas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.8 µg/L. Surface area: 7337 acres.
Is Red Bluff Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water level at Red Bluff Reservoir?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Red Bluff Reservoir is 2814.53 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:15 PM at gauge 08410000. 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 Red Bluff Reservoir?
- Red Bluff Reservoir has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Red Bluff Dam Park, Red Bluff Reservoir. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Red Bluff Reservoir across LakeQuality
More Texas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Texas
Eutrophic Lakes in Texas
Where this data comes from
27 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
TCEQMAIN27 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