Steamboat Lake
Routt County, Colorado1,056 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
- 113 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Steamboat Lake in Routt County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 1056 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Max depth
- ~113 ft est.
- Area
- 1,056 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Steamboat Lake is a 1,056-acre mesotrophic lake in Routt County, Colorado with an estimated average depth of about 113 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Routt County, Steamboat Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Steamboat Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Big water1,056 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. Steamboat Lake 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: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~113 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,056 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 Steamboat 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
- Steamboat Lake State ParkPublic
- Steamboat Lake State ParkPublic
- Steamboat Lake State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Steamboat Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Steamboat Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Willow Creek (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the Willow Creek; earth-type dam, 100 ft tall and 700 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,056 ac
- Normal storage
- 28,668 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 37,367 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 35 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE (TAYLOR, MARGARET)
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO01036 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Steamboat 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_E · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Routt County
Nearby Lakes in Routt County
Frequently asked questions about Steamboat Lake
Where is Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat 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 Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat Lake in Routt County, Colorado has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 1056 acres.
Is Steamboat Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Steamboat Lake 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 Steamboat Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Steamboat Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 113 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 1056 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Steamboat Lake State Park, Steamboat Lake State Park, Steamboat Lake State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Steamboat Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 22.4 mi, nearest Routt 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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Other Grade D Lakes in Colorado
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment-WQCD
21COL001_WQX6 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk depth measurement
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory