Little Johnny dam
Little Johnny
Little Johnny, located in Canon City, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1894 for irrigation purposes on Wilson Creek. Managed by the USDA NRCS, the dam stands at a height of 9.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Little Johnny serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and water supply for the surrounding area.
Despite being over a century old, Little Johnny remains in good condition with a structural height of 10 feet and a spillway width of 40 feet for uncontrolled release of excess water. The dam covers a surface area of 7 acres and has a drainage area of 0.16 square miles, making it a vital resource for the local community. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks a formal emergency action plan, its operations are overseen by the USDA NRCS to ensure safety and functionality for ongoing irrigation needs.
With its historical significance and continued importance for water resource management in Fremont County, Colorado, Little Johnny stands as a testament to the enduring value of infrastructure built for agricultural and environmental purposes. As climate change impacts water availability and usage patterns, maintaining and potentially upgrading dams like Little Johnny will be crucial for sustainable water management in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate the role that structures like Little Johnny play in balancing human needs with ecological health in a changing world.
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 Little Johnny -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fourmile Creek Below Cripple Creek Near Victor | 4 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Parkdale | 525 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Canon City | 389 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Abv Upper Beaver Cemetery Nr Penrose | 5 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Above Highway 115 Near Penrose | · | → |
| Arkansas River At Portland | 307 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Johnny.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
- Skagway Road Teller County
- Ahra - Pinnacle Rock Rec Site
- Ahra - Lone Pine Rec Site
- Forest Road 96.I Park County
Campgrounds
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 16
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 14
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 15
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 13
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 12
- Sand Gulch Campground Campsite 11
Fishing spots
- Brush Hollow Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Mason Reservoir
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Teller Reservoir
Track Little Johnny 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 Little Johnny
Where does the data for Little Johnny 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 Little Johnny.