Bailey dam
Bailey
Bailey is a privately owned dam located in Hotchkiss, Colorado, along the Leroux Creek. Completed in 1967, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 1101 acre-feet. The dam stands at 35 feet high with a hydraulic height of 39 feet, spanning a length of 1000 feet and covering a surface area of 69 acres. Despite its fair condition assessment and low hazard potential, Bailey presents a high risk level due to its location and potential impact on the surrounding area.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Bailey undergoes regular inspection and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the community. With a state-regulated and permitted status, the dam features slide and uncontrolled outlet gates, serving as an essential water supply and irrigation source for the region. Although it lacks a spillway, the dam's risk management measures and emergency preparedness are critical factors in mitigating potential hazards and ensuring the safety of downstream areas.
In the event of emergencies, Bailey's risk assessment and hazard potential are closely monitored, with a prescribed inspection frequency of every 6 years. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and climate control in the Delta County area. As a significant infrastructure project, Bailey stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance water supply needs with environmental conservation and public safety concerns in Colorado.
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 Bailey -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 12 cfs | → |
| Terror Creek At Mouth Near Bowie | 2 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bailey.
Boat launches
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Grand Avenue Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
Campgrounds
- Weir And Johnson
- Weir & Johnson Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Twin Lake
- Twin Lake Dispersed Camping Area
- Big Creek
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
Track Bailey 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 Bailey
Where does the data for Bailey 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 Bailey.