Alexander dam
Alexander
Alexander Dam, located in Montrose, Colorado, is a private irrigation structure completed in 1968 with a primary purpose of irrigation. This earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a hydraulic height of 33 feet, providing a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam poses a high risk, prompting the need for risk management measures. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Situated on Spring Creek-TR, Alexander Dam serves various purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and recreation in addition to irrigation. With a structural length of 330 feet and a surface area of 3 acres, the dam has uncontrolled outlet gates and no spillway. The surrounding area is under the jurisdiction of the state, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to maintain its integrity. The dam is a vital water resource for the city of Olathe, providing essential water supply for agricultural and recreational activities.
Owned and operated privately, Alexander Dam plays a crucial role in water management within the region. With a congressman representing the area, the dam's importance in sustaining water resources for the community is recognized at the federal level. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, structures like Alexander Dam become increasingly essential for ensuring a sustainable water supply for current and future generations.
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 Alexander -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 97 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 93 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Delta | 100 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 55 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River At Delta | 932 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alexander.
Boat launches
- Chukar Boat Ramp
- Ouray County
- Orchard Boat Launch
- Shea Road Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Delta County
Campgrounds
- Cedar Creek Rv Park
- Chukar Trailhead Camping Area
- Silesca Guard Station
- Chukar
- Lower Margaritaville
- Upper Magaritaville
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Gunnison Gorge
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Potter Creek
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
Track Alexander 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 Alexander
Where does the data for Alexander 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 Alexander.