Brush Fence Lake dam
Brush Fence Lake
Brush Fence Lake is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Archuleta County, Colorado. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 680 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 26 acre-feet. The lake serves as a habitat for various wildlife species and is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring proper inspection and enforcement measures are in place.
Despite its low hazard potential, Brush Fence Lake is considered to have a high risk due to its condition not being rated and lacking updated emergency action plans. The surrounding area is at risk of inundation in the event of a dam failure, highlighting the importance of implementing risk management measures. With a maximum discharge of 98 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 4 acres, this serene water body is a key feature in the local ecosystem and requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality for both wildlife and the community.
Located near Chama, New Mexico, Brush Fence Lake offers a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to observe and appreciate the delicate balance between human-made structures and natural ecosystems. As efforts continue to assess and address potential risks associated with the dam, this picturesque pond remains a valuable asset for supporting biodiversity and enhancing the local environment.
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 Brush Fence Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 90 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 267 cfs | → |
| Rio Blanco Bl Blanco Div Dam | 42 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 169 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Below Platoro Reservoir | 416 cfs | → |
| San Juan River At Pagosa Springs | 829 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brush Fence Lake.
Campgrounds
- Trujillo Meadows Campground
- Trujillo Meadows
- Blanco River Group Campground
- Blanco River
- Conejos
- Spectacle Lake
Fishing spots
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
- Trujillo Meadows Lake
- Spectacle Lake Fishing Site
- La Manga Creek (Beaver Ponds)
- Lost Lake
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
Paddle runs
- Lower Branch--Sec 28, T33n, R3e; Upper Branch--Sec 15, T33n, R3e To Sec 7, T32n, R4e
- Sec 1, T33n, R3e To Confluence With East Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
- Dipping Lakes--Sec 5, T33n, R4e To Confluence With West Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
- Sec 17, T35n, R4e To Sec 36, T35n, R4e
- Tierra Amarilla Grant Boundary To Colorado Stateline
- South Fork--Sec 19, T35n, R4e To Sec 36, T35n, R4 1/2e
Track Brush Fence Lake 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 Brush Fence Lake
Where does the data for Brush Fence Lake 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 Brush Fence Lake.