Blue Mesa dam
Blue Mesa
Blue Mesa is a significant water resource located in Gunnison, Colorado, managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation. The dam, completed in 1965, is an earth-filled structure standing at 390 feet high and spanning 785 feet in length. It has a storage capacity of 940,700 acre-feet and covers an impressive surface area of 9,180 acres, drawing water from the Gunnison River.
With a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, Blue Mesa Dam is carefully regulated and inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 50 feet and multiple outlet gates for effective water management. The surrounding area offers a range of recreational activities, making it a popular destination for water and climate enthusiasts alike.
Visitors to Blue Mesa can appreciate the engineering marvel of the dam while enjoying the natural beauty of the Gunnison River and the expansive reservoir it creates. As a vital component of Colorado's water infrastructure, Blue Mesa serves multiple purposes while contributing to the region's water supply, energy generation, and agricultural needs.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Blue Mesa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 42 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork At Gateview | 252 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Near Gunnison | 503 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Gunnison | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Mesa.
Boat launches
- Us 50 Sapinero
- Dillon Pinnacles Trail Gunnison County
- Ponderosa Campground Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
- Silver Thread Scenic Byway Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Lake Fork - Curecanti Area
- Narrows Boat-In Campsite
- Lake Fork Arm
- Lake Fork Arm Boat-In Campsite
- Blue Creek Boat-In Campsite
- Curecanti Creek
Fishing spots
- Morrow Point Reservoir
- Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
- Gould Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Day Use Area/ Fishing Site
- Silver Jack Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Blue Mesa Reservoir
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
More reservoirs
Track Blue Mesa in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Blue Mesa
Where does the data for Blue Mesa come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Blue Mesa.