Bonnie Meade dam
Bonnie Meade
Located in Pueblo, Colorado, Bonnie Meade is a privately owned dam designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1948, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 470 feet, providing a storage capacity of 310 acre-feet for the Greenhorn Creek-OS. The dam has a low hazard potential and is in fair condition, with the last inspection conducted in June 2019.
Although primarily used for irrigation, Bonnie Meade also serves purposes such as fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond support. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1262 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 24 acres. Despite being regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the dam has not undergone modification in recent years and does not have a spillway.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bonnie Meade offers a glimpse into the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climatic conditions. With its historical significance and role in supporting local agriculture, the dam serves as a reminder of the critical role that water infrastructure plays in ensuring the resilience of communities in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Bonnie Meade -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano River At Badito | 8 cfs | → |
| Huerfano R Bl Huerf Valy Dam Nr Undercliffe | 0 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Above Pueblo | 70 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Moffat Street At Pueblo | 87 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Tributary Above Hwy 227 At Pueblo | 34 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Pueblo | 124 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonnie Meade.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Greenhorn Meadows Park
- Camp Joseph
- Lake Isabel Cabin
- Southside - Lake Isabel
- Southside Campground
- La Vista - Lake Isabel
🎣 Fishing spots
- Lake Beckwith
- Huerfano State Wildlife Area
- Lake Isabel
- Martin Lake
- Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop Sp)
- Lake Minnequa
Track Bonnie Meade 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 Bonnie Meade
Where does the data for Bonnie Meade 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 Low 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 Bonnie Meade.