Canon Wtrsd C-3 dam
Canon Wtrsd C-3
Canon Wtrsd C-3, located in Canon City, Colorado, is a crucial piece of infrastructure designed for flood risk reduction along the Sand Creek. Built in 1972 by the Soil Conservation Service, USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 70 feet and has a hydraulic height of 93 feet, with a length of 715 feet. With a storage capacity of 1923 acre-feet, it serves as a vital tool in managing water resources in Fremont County.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Department of Water Resources, Canon Wtrsd C-3 has been assessed as having a high hazard potential, although its condition is deemed satisfactory. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 100 feet to manage maximum discharges of up to 10,580 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam plays a pivotal role in protecting downstream communities and infrastructure from potential flooding events.
With its last inspection in 2018 and a designated emergency action plan, Canon Wtrsd C-3 remains a critical part of Colorado's water management infrastructure. The dam's strategic location and design, along with its state-regulated permitting and inspection processes, highlight its importance in safeguarding against flood risks and ensuring the sustainable use of water resources 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 Canon Wtrsd C-3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Canon City | 389 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Parkdale | 514 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Portland | 338 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Above Highway 115 Near Penrose | · | → |
| Beaver Cr Abv Upper Beaver Cemetery Nr Penrose | 4 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek Below Cripple Creek Near Victor | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canon Wtrsd C-3.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
- Ahra - Pinnacle Rock Rec Site
- Skagway Road Teller County
- Ahra - Lone Pine Rec Site
- Ahra - Canyon Trading Post
Campgrounds
- Grape Creek - Temple Canyon Park
- Oak Creek
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 16
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 15
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 14
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 13
Fishing spots
- Brush Hollow Reservoir
- Deweese Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
- Teller Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Pueblo Reservoir
Track Canon Wtrsd C-3 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 Canon Wtrsd C-3
Where does the data for Canon Wtrsd C-3 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 Canon Wtrsd C-3.