Mason dam
Mason
Mason, George is a privately owned earth dam located in Elbert, Colorado, specifically in the city of Deer Trail. Built in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the East Bijou Creek. With a structural height of 23 feet and a length of 835 feet, Mason, George has a storage capacity of 273 acre-feet and a normal storage of 138 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 27 acres. The dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2017.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Mason, George is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 250 feet and a maximum discharge of 8,400 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years and is considered to meet safety guidelines. With a designated emergency action plan in place, Mason, George serves as a crucial infrastructure for protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Overall, Mason, George stands as a vital asset in the water resource management infrastructure of Colorado, providing flood risk reduction capabilities and safeguarding the community against potential hazards. Its strategic location along the East Bijou Creek and the efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service ensure that the dam remains a key component in the state's water management system. With a focus on maintaining its structural integrity and adhering to regulatory standards, Mason, George plays a critical role in preserving the safety and well-being of the surrounding region in Elbert County.
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 Mason -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Near Franktown | 6 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek At Woodmen Rd Nr Colo Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Abv Briargate Pkwy | 3 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Ck At Union Blvd | 2 cfs | → |
| Monument C Ab N.Gate Blvd At Usaf Academy | 9 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mason.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Ramah Reservoir
- Bingham Lake-Pinery Reservoir
- Pinery Reservoir
- Deadmans Creek
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
- Palmer Lake
Track Mason 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 Mason
Where does the data for Mason 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 Mason.