Stagecoach Lake
Routt County, Colorado819 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Stagecoach Lake in Routt County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Surface area: 819 acres.
- Area
- 819 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Stagecoach Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stagecoach Lake in Routt 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 Stagecoach Lake are listed below.
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Stagecoach Lake is a 819-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Routt County, Colorado. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Routt County, Stagecoach Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2024-07-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Stagecoach Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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. Stagecoach Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 819 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Stagecoach Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Stagecoach State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Stagecoach Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -33 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +15.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Stagecoach Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Stagecoach (completed 1988), built primarily for water supply on the Yampa River; roller-compacted concrete-type dam, 150 ft tall and 390 ft long.
- Surface area
- 819 ac
- Normal storage
- 36,439 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 227 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Irrigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO02702 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Stagecoach Lake 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 COUCYA22_F · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Routt County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Stagecoach Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Routt County
Frequently asked questions about Stagecoach Lake
Where is Stagecoach Lake?
- Stagecoach Lake is a lake in Routt County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Stagecoach Lake?
- Stagecoach Lake in Routt County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Surface area: 819 acres.
Is Stagecoach Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Stagecoach Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Stagecoach Lake?
- Stagecoach Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stagecoach State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Stagecoach Lake across LakeQuality
More Colorado Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Colorado
Eutrophic Lakes in Colorado
Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Colorado State University Agricultural Water Quality Program (Volunteer)
CSU_AWQP29 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory