Bald Mountain dam
Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain, also known as Baldy, is a privately owned dam located in Gunnison County, Colorado. Built in 1962 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam has a storage capacity of 174 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10 acres, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
The dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory with a low hazard potential, but a high risk assessment due to its location and design. The last inspection was conducted in September 2011, with regular inspections scheduled every 6 years. Despite its age, the dam continues to operate effectively, with an outlet consisting of slide gates and an uncontrolled spillway. While the risk level is monitored closely, the dam remains a vital resource for water management in the region.
Situated along Crystal Creek, the Bald Mountain dam plays a crucial role in water management and irrigation in the area. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam has stood the test of time and continues to provide reliable water storage for agricultural needs. As climate change impacts water resources, structures like Bald Mountain will play an increasingly important role in ensuring water security 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 Bald Mountain -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Creek Near Paonia | 4 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 55 cfs | → |
| Smith Fork Near Lazear | 1 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Below Paonia | 49 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset | 924 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bald Mountain.
Boat launches
- Ponderosa Campground Gunnison County
- Us 50 Sapinero
- Dillon Pinnacles Trail Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
- Grand Avenue Delta County
Campgrounds
- Soap Creek Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Soap Creek
- Ponderosa - Curecanti Area
- Crawford State Park
- West Elk Boat-In Campsite
- West Elk
Fishing spots
- Gould Reservoir
- Crawford Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
- Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Paonia Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Gunnison Gorge
More reservoirs
Track Bald Mountain 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 Bald Mountain
Where does the data for Bald Mountain 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 Bald Mountain.