Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) dam
Spruce Lake #2 (Lower)
Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) is a privately owned dam located in Mineral, Colorado, specifically in the city of South Fork. Completed in 1926, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres. The dam stands at a height of 19 feet, with a maximum discharge of 543 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) has been assessed to be in fair condition as of September 2018. With a risk assessment rating of High (2), there may be potential vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. The dam is under state regulation and inspection, ensuring that necessary measures are in place to maintain its structural integrity and safety standards.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance of Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) as an early 20th-century irrigation infrastructure in Colorado. Its location along the South Fork Rio Grande River and its contribution to fish and wildlife conservation add to its importance in the local ecosystem. Monitoring and maintaining this dam will be crucial in ensuring water security and sustainability in the region for years to come.
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 Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork San Juan River Nr Pagosa Springs | -888 cfs | → |
| South Fork Rio Grande At South Fork | 599 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 131 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork Bel Cropsy Creek At Summitville | 14 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 1,290 cfs | → |
| San Juan River At Pagosa Springs | 897 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spruce Lake #2 (Lower).
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Big Meadows Campground And Picnic Area
- Big Meadows
- West Fork
- West Fork Campground
- Wolf Creek
- Tucker Ponds
Fishing spots
- Big Meadows Reservoir
- Shaw Lake
- Pass Creek Lake Fishing Site
- Tucker Ponds Fishing Site
- Alberta Park Reservoir
- Poage Lake Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Headwaters (Sec 21, T38n, R1e) To 1/4 Mile Above Big Meadows Reservoir
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Middle Fork--Headwaters To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Below Big Meadows Reservoir Dam To Sec 9 And 10, T39n, R3e
- Sec 30, T41n, R2e To Sec 11, T40n, R2e
- Ef/Middle Fork At Weminuche Wilderness Boundary To Forest Development Road 631
Track Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) 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 Spruce Lake #2 (Lower)
Where does the data for Spruce Lake #2 (Lower) 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 Spruce Lake #2 (Lower).