Braecher Ranch dam
Braecher Ranch
Braecher Ranch, also known as Braecher Lake or the Sea of Storms, is a private irrigation dam located in Gilpin County, Colorado. Completed in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet with a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 34 feet. The dam stretches 660 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes.
Situated along the Ralston Creek-TR river and owned privately, Braecher Ranch serves multiple functions including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond management in addition to irrigation. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam has a moderate risk rating, indicating potential risks that require careful monitoring and management. The last inspection in June 2019 found the dam to be in satisfactory condition, with inspections conducted every 6 years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
With its controlled spillway and uncontrolled spillway type, Braecher Ranch is a vital water resource in the region, providing essential water storage for agricultural purposes. Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this dam plays a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and economy while also highlighting the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Braecher Ranch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Boulder Creek At Nederland | 122 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
| Fall River Near Idaho Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Moffat Water Tunnel At East Portal | 249 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Lawson | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Braecher Ranch.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Base Camp At Golden Gate Canyon
- Site 09
- Loop H 69-72
- Loop F 60-64
- Loop G 65-68
- Reverends Ridge - Golden Gate State Park
Fishing spots
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Central City Park Pond
- Barker Reservoir
- Game Check Trailhead
- Peterson Lake (Nederland)
- Fishing Is Fun #6
Track Braecher Ranch 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 Braecher Ranch
Where does the data for Braecher Ranch 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 Braecher Ranch.