Wauconda dam
Wauconda
Wauconda, also known as Perry Park, is a private recreational dam located in Sedalia, Colorado, within Douglas County. Completed in 1974, this earth dam stands at 42 feet high and spans 565 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 606 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Bear Creek, serves the primary purpose of recreation and offers a surface area of 27 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR), Wauconda has a significant hazard potential but has been assessed to be in fair condition as of June 2019. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1745 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 14 square miles, Wauconda plays a crucial role in water resource management and flood control in the region. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam continues to be inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures are up to standard.
Owned by a private entity, Wauconda offers a tranquil retreat for both locals and visitors, with its picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities. As part of the broader water resource infrastructure in Colorado, this dam on Bear Creek stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental 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 Wauconda -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trout Creek Blw Fern Cr Nr Westcreek | 1 cfs | → |
| East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock | 8 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 19 cfs | → |
| West Cr. Abv Shrewsbury Gulch Nr Westcreek Co | 1 cfs | → |
| So. Platte R. Blw Brush Cr. Nr Trumbull Co | 229 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wauconda.
Boat launches
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Palmer Lake
- Upper Reservoir - Palmer Lake
- South Platte River
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
- Manitou Lake
- Strontia Springs Reservoir
Track Wauconda 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 Wauconda
Where does the data for Wauconda 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 Significant 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 Wauconda.