Bayou Salado dam
Bayou Salado
Bayou Salado is a privately owned dam located in Park County, Colorado, near the city of Deckers. Completed in 1968, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a maximum storage capacity of 282 acre-feet of water. Situated along Tarryall Creek-OS, this dam has a structural height of 30 feet and a spillway width of 2 feet, with a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2018.
With a drainage area of 0 square miles and a surface area of 26 acres, Bayou Salado offers a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife watching. The dam's location in the Omaha District enhances its accessibility for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Bayou Salado continues to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for individuals passionate about water resources and climate conservation.
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 Bayou Salado -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River Above Cheesman Lake | 270 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Cheesman Lake | 314 cfs | → |
| S Platte R Ab 11-Mile Canyon Re | 269 cfs | → |
| So. Platte R. Blw Brush Cr. Nr Trumbull Co | 307 cfs | → |
| West Cr. Abv Shrewsbury Gulch Nr Westcreek Co | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Lake George | 248 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bayou Salado.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Tarryall Reservoir
- Cheesman Reservoir
- Wellington Lake
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir
- Eleven Mile Reservoir
- Elevenmile Canyon 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
- North Fork--Insmont To Estabrook
- Bailey Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Bayou Salado 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 Bayou Salado
Where does the data for Bayou Salado 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 Bayou Salado.