Grass Valley dam
Grass Valley
Grass Valley, also known as Harvey Gap or Antler, is a significant water resource located in Garfield County, Colorado. This public utility dam, completed in 1892, serves primarily for irrigation purposes and stands at a height of 61 feet with a length of 800 feet. Its storage capacity is impressive, holding up to 6111 acre-feet of water with a normal storage level of 5060 acre-feet.
The dam has a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment being deemed unsatisfactory, and it has undergone modifications over the years to ensure its structural integrity. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 15 feet, and it is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. Grass Valley is an essential part of the local water infrastructure, supporting agricultural activities and contributing to the overall water management in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Grass Valley serves as a fascinating example of historic water infrastructure that continues to play a vital role in modern water management. With its rich history dating back to the late 19th century and its ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam represents a blend of tradition and innovation in ensuring water sustainability for the community. The data on Grass Valley highlights the importance of maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure to meet current safety standards and environmental challenges, making it a subject of interest for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Grass Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs | 2,080 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs | 829 cfs | → |
| West Divide Creek Near Raven | 46 cfs | → |
| White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford | 520 cfs | → |
| White River Above Coal Creek | 233 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Dotsero | 927 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grass Valley.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- West Elk Ridge Camp
- Tiki Mine Camp
- West Elk Area Campsite
- Rifle Gap State Park
- Cedar Campground
- Rifle Falls State Park
Fishing spots
- Harvey Gap Reservoir
- Rifle Gap Reservoir
- Meadow Creek Lake
- Meadow Lake Picnic Area
- Deep Lake Fishing/Picnic Area Fishing Site
- Lake Avery
Paddle runs
Track Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley
Where does the data for Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley.