Crawford dam
Crawford
Crawford Dam, located in Delta, Colorado, is a vital water resource managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1962, this earth dam stands at 162 feet high and spans 580 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 18,275 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Iron Creek and serves as a key component in managing water resources in the region, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1,400 cubic feet per second.
Despite its critical role in water management, Crawford Dam poses a high hazard potential and is categorized as a high-risk structure. Regular inspections by the Bureau of Reclamation ensure its operational integrity, with a condition assessment currently marked as "Not Available." Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision dated to July 2020, indicating a commitment to ensuring public safety in the event of a dam-related emergency. With its strategic location and significant impact on the surrounding area, Crawford Dam stands as a cornerstone in the management of water resources in Colorado.
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 Crawford -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Fork Near Lazear | 1 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 774 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Below Paonia | 49 cfs | → |
| Minnesota Creek Near Paonia | 4 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 692 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crawford.
Boat launches
- Grand Avenue Delta County
- Chukar Boat Ramp
- Gunnison Forks
- Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Orchard Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Crawford State Park
- North Rim - Gunnison National Park
- North Rim Campground
- South Rim - Gunnison National Park
- South Rim Campground
- East Portal Campground
Fishing spots
- Crawford Reservoir
- Gould Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir
- Fruitgrowers Reservoir
- Chipeta Lakes Swa
Paddle runs
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Gunnison Gorge
- West Fork Terror Creek
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
Track Crawford 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 Crawford
Where does the data for Crawford 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 Crawford.