Federal reservoirs in southwest Colorado include: Lemon, Jackson Gulch, McPhee, Lake Nighthorse, and Vallecito. The history of recreation at these federal reservoirs is both old and new.

Lemon Dam is the principal feature of the Florida Project, which is part of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project. The dam, which was complete in 1963, is located on the Florida River, approximately 14 miles northeast of Durango. The Project is managed by the Florida Water Conservancy District. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) stocks the reservoir—primarily with rainbow trout. Recreation facilities at Lemon Reservoir were constructed by the National Park Service and are operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Recreation includes: boating, camping, fishing, and picnic facilities. Lemon has a boat ramp, but no marina.

Jackson Gulch Dam is the principal feature of the Mancos Project, which was approved in 1940 under the Water Conservation and Utilization Program Act. The project was complete in 1950 and is located on the Mancos River, five miles north of Mancos. It is managed by the Mancos Water Conservancy District. Similar to Lemon, the CDOW stocks the reservoir with rainbow trout. Recreation facilities at the reservoir were developed by the Bureau of Reclamation and are managed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Recreation includes: boating, camping, fishing, and picnic facilities; there is also a boat ramp.
 
McPhee Dam and Reservoir is the principle storage feature of the Dolores Project, which was approved in 1968. Construction of the dam began in 1980 and was finished six years later. The Project is managed by the Dolores Water Conservancy District and is located on the Dolores River, approximately 12 miles from Cortez. The lake is annually stocked with rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Warm water species include bass, bluegill, crappie, and walleye. Recreation at McPhee includes: boating, camping (including laundry, showers, and a dump station), fishing, horseshoe pits, picnic facilities (including grills), and volleyball. McPhee has a six-lane concrete boat ramp with parking that can accommodate 150 cars and boat trailers. There is no marina at this time.

Lake Nighthorse was authorized in 1968, with dam construction finished last year. The Animas-La Plata Project (ALP) was downscaled in 2000, and all funding for recreation features was removed from the project. The Project is located just a few miles south of Durango on the Animas River, with management still under negotiation. Recreation options for Lake Nighthorse, which officially began filling in May, are in the process of being discussed and developed. A public meeting to discuss recreation use was hosted by the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District in March, with minutes and notes available on the WIP website. With funds available through Wallop-Breaux grants and State Severance Tax dollars, a boat ramp, access road, vault toilet, and parking area, are in the process of being constructed to accommodate a yet-undetermined level of boating and fishing. Lake Nighthorse will not be open to any kind of recreation until the Colorado portion of the project is completed, which is estimated to be within the next two years.

The Pine River Project was approved in 1937, with the completion of Vallecito Dam in 1941. The Project is located on the Pine River, approximately 18 miles northeast of Durango. The Project is managed by the Pine River Irrigation District (PRID), with recreation managed by the same entity. Similar to other reservoirs in the area, the lake is stocked with a variety of fish including trout and kokanee salmon, by the CDOW. Recreation at Vallecito includes: boating, fishing, picnic facilities, and U.S. Forest Service camp sites. Walking trails are maintained by the Vallecito Service League. A variety of other amenities, including cabin rentals, are available through the private sector. Vallecito has a boat ramp and two marinas. Thanks to a new contract signed at the beginning of June between the BOR and the PRID, recreation at Vallecito Reservoir is secure for the next 25 years.