Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 dam
Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6
Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6, located in Ouray, Colorado, is a gravity dam primarily used for debris control on the Chaffee Gulch river. Built in 1965 by the Bureau of Land Management, this federal-owned structure stands at a structural height of 44 feet, with a hydraulic height of 37 feet and a length of 588 feet. With a storage capacity of 20.06 acre-feet and a surface area of 11.22 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in managing the water resources in the area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 is regularly inspected by the Bureau of Land Management to ensure its fair condition. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures. With a controlled spillway type and no outlet gates, the dam is designed to handle the normal drainage area of 2030 acres, providing vital protection against potential flooding and debris buildup in the region.
As an essential part of water resource management in the area, Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With its strategic location and purpose-built design, this gravity dam continues to serve as a reliable asset in protecting the surrounding environment and communities from potential water-related hazards.
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 Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 96 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 83 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 184 cfs | → |
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 2 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Ridgway State Park
- Buckhorn Lakes Dispersed Campsites
- Big Cimarron
- Big Cimarron Campground - Ouray Rd
- Beaver Lake
- Beaver Lake Campground - Ouray Rd
Fishing spots
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Day Use Area/ Fishing Site
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
- Chipeta Lakes Swa
- Crystal Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Gunnison Gorge
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- San Miguel River Segment 1
Track Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 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 Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6
Where does the data for Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6 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 Chaffee Gulch Detention Dam #6.