Cottonwood dam
Cottonwood
Cottonwood is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. Built in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet with a length of 330 feet, creating a storage capacity of 106 acre-feet. Situated on Gardiner Creek, Cottonwood serves the primary purpose of irrigation, supporting agricultural activities in the region.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Cottonwood is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 8 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 543 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Cottonwood meets regulatory guidelines and operates within acceptable safety standards.
Located in Grand County, Colorado, Cottonwood plays a vital role in managing water resources for irrigation purposes in the area. With its strategic location and reliable infrastructure, this dam continues to support agricultural activities while maintaining a moderate risk status and ensuring public safety.
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 Cottonwood -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River At Windy Gap | 176 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir | 18 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 101 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Below Willow Creek Reservoir | 7 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Granby | 80 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Below Lake Granby | 103 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cottonwood.
Boat launches
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Grand County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Hilltop Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Pioneer Park Campground/Day Use
- Beaver Creek Unti - Hot Sulphur State Wildlife Area
- Willow Creek
- Williams Fork Reservoir - Swa
- Sawmill Gulch
- Morgan Gulch Rec Site Camping
Fishing spots
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Willow Creek Fishing Site
- Granby Lake
- Shadow Mountain Reservoir
- Meadow Creek Reservoir
- Monarch Lake
Paddle runs
- Gore Canyon
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road
- Lower Blue (Green Mountain To Spring Creek)
More reservoirs
Track Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood
Where does the data for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood.