Woodland Park dam
Woodland Park
Woodland Park, also known as Loy Gulch Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in El Paso, Colorado. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 60 feet with a hydraulic height of 75 feet and a structural height of 82 feet. Its primary purpose is water supply, serving the Loy Gulch stream with a maximum storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a normal storage of 60 acre-feet.
The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 15 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 518 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, Woodland Park is in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in August 2020. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with state jurisdiction and permitting in place. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam presents a manageable level of risk with potential measures for risk management in place.
Woodland Park serves as a crucial water resource infrastructure in the region, ensuring a reliable water supply for the surrounding area. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the technical details of this dam, from its construction specifications to its operational capacity. As a regulated and inspected structure, Woodland Park upholds safety standards while fulfilling its vital role in water supply management for the community.
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 Woodland Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Monument Creek Below Rampart Reservoir | 4 cfs | → |
| West Monument Creek At Air Force Academy | 2 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
| 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 Woodland Park.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Rampart Reservoir
- Homestake Fishing Site
- Nichols Reservoir
- South Catamount Reservoir
- North Catamount Reservoir
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Private Land To Confluence With Beaver Creek
- Beaver Creek To Cheeseman Reservoir
- Eleven Mile Canyon Dam To Private Land In Vicinity Of Lake George
- Cheeseman Dam To Wigman Club
- West Beaver Creek
- Fourmile Creek
More reservoirs
Track Woodland Park 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 Woodland Park
Where does the data for Woodland Park 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 High 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 Woodland Park.