Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Grand County, Colorado1,550 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Oligotrophic
- #4 of 7 in the county
Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Grand County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 1550 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Area
- 1,550 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Wolford Mountain Reservoir’s letter
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Wolford Mountain Reservoir is a 1,550-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Grand County, Colorado. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Grand County, Wolford Mountain Reservoir ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, CDPHE, last sampled 2023-10-31. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Wolford Mountain Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water1,550 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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. Wolford Mountain 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 42. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,550 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wolford Mountain Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -23.4 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wolford Mountain Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ritschard (completed 1995), built primarily for irrigation on the Muddy Creek; earth-type dam, 126 ft tall and 1,910 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,550 ac
- Normal storage
- 65,985 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 84,639 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 269 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (CAUSEY
All listed purposes: Irrigation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID CO02788 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Wolford Mountain 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 COUCUC13_C · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Grand County
Nearby Lakes in Grand County
Frequently asked questions about Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Where is Wolford Mountain Reservoir?
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir is a lake in Grand County, Colorado. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wolford Mountain Reservoir?
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Grand County, Colorado has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Surface area: 1550 acres.
Is Wolford Mountain Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Wolford Mountain Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for metals (other than mercury). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Wolford Mountain Reservoir across LakeQuality
16.2 mi away · recorded at 111°F
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Colorado's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
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Where this data comes from
207 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Colorado Water Science Center
USGS-CO207 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- YSI EXO, 470/685/40,S bacillaris
- HACH, sensor model 2100 AN, R-On
- YSI EXO turbidity sensor, FNU
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