G.W. Verhoeff dam
G.W. Verhoeff
G.W. Verhoeff is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Lamar, Colorado, within Bent County. Constructed in 1947 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet. With a capacity of 542 acre-feet, it primarily serves the purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area, with additional uses including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond support.
Situated on the Arkansas River-TR, G.W. Verhoeff spans 964 feet in length and covers a surface area of 52 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, it has been rated as fair in condition assessment, with the last inspection conducted in October 2010. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 230 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 14,745 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective water resource management for the region.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, G.W. Verhoeff is subject to state regulations and inspections, with the Colorado Division of Water Resources overseeing its permitting, enforcement, and enforcement. While the dam's risk assessment indicates a high level of vulnerability, measures for risk management and emergency preparedness are yet to be fully implemented. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam serves as a significant infrastructure for irrigation and environmental conservation in the region.
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 G.W. Verhoeff -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Below John Martin Reservoir | 99 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Lamar | 18 cfs | → |
| Purgatoire River Near Las Animas | 2 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Las Animas | 13 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Lamar | 41 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Granada | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near G.W. Verhoeff.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Hasty Lake
- John Martin Reservoir
- Nee Gronda Reservoir
- Thurston Reservoir
- Queens Reservoir
- Nee Noshe Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track G.W. Verhoeff 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 G.W. Verhoeff
Where does the data for G.W. Verhoeff 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 G.W. Verhoeff.