Skaguay Reservoir
Teller County, Colorado88 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Skaguay Reservoir in Teller County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Surface area: 88 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Skaguay Reservoir’s letter
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Skaguay Reservoir is a 88-acre mesotrophic lake in Teller County, Colorado. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2020-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Skaguay Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Skaguay Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.1 µg/L. TSI 41. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Skaguay Reservoir is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Skaguay Reservoir State Wildlife AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Skaguay Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Skaguay Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Skaguay (completed 1901), built primarily for recreation on the West Beaver Creek; rockfill-type dam, 79 ft tall and 475 ft long.
- Surface area
- 88 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,066 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,570 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 62 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE (TAYLOR, MARGARET)
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO00481 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Skaguay Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit COARUA38_B · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.71 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Teller County
Nearby Lakes in Teller County
Frequently asked questions about Skaguay Reservoir
Where is Skaguay Reservoir?
- Skaguay Reservoir is a lake in Teller County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Skaguay Reservoir?
- Skaguay Reservoir in Teller County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Surface area: 88 acres.
Is Skaguay Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Skaguay Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Skaguay Reservoir?
- The available depth estimate for Skaguay Reservoir is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 88 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Skaguay Reservoir?
- Skaguay Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Skaguay Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Skaguay Reservoir across LakeQuality
21 mi away · recorded at 104°F
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
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020. 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 · 2020
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory