North Fork dam
North Fork
Located in Chaffee County, Colorado, the North Fork dam serves multiple purposes, including fish and wildlife pond management, irrigation, and recreation. Managed by the local government with oversight from the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the dam was completed in 1953 and stands at a height of 29 feet with a hydraulic height of 36 feet. With a storage capacity of 810 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 33 acres and has a drainage area of 3 square miles.
The North Fork dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 80 feet wide and has a maximum discharge of 3028 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in July 2020. With a risk assessment rating of moderate, the dam poses manageable risks, and emergency action plans are in place to address any potential incidents. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, North Fork offers a vital source of water management and recreational opportunities in the region.
Situated along the North Fork of the South Arkansas River, the dam's primary purpose is recreation, attracting visitors to the area for outdoor activities. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the local ecosystem and supporting wildlife habitat. With its strategic location and regulated operation, North Fork serves as a valuable asset for water conservation efforts and climate resilience in the region.
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 North Fork -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Near Nathrop | 271 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Sargents | 39 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Salida | 233 cfs | → |
| Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir | 172 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Taylor Park | 119 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Wellsville | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Fork.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Big Bend Rec Site
- Ahra - Stone Bridge Rec Site
- Road 191 Chaffee County
- Ahra - Hecla Junction Rec Site
- Cr 194 Chaffee County
- Ahra - Fishermans Bridge Rec Site
Campgrounds
- North Fork Reservoir
- Garfield
- Middle Quartz
- Middle Quartz Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Angel Of Shavano Campground
- Angel Of Shavano
Fishing spots
- Baldwin Lake
- Chalk Lake Fishing Site
- Mirror Lake (Almont)
- Cottonwood Lake (Buena Vista)
- Cottonwood Lake
- Riverside Ponds (Mt. Ouray Swa)
Paddle runs
- Pass Creek
- Salida Town Run (Stone Bridge To Salida Ww Park)
- Browns Canyon (Fisherman's Bridge To Stone Bridge)
- Milk Run
- Salida Whitewater Park
- Salida To Rincon
More reservoirs
Track North Fork 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 North Fork
Where does the data for North Fork 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 North Fork.