Leon Lake dam
Leon Lake
Leon Lake, also known as Two-Sides, is a privately owned water resource nestled in Mesa County, Colorado. Built in 1898, this earth dam stands 30 feet tall and spans 110 feet in length, providing irrigation water for the area. With a normal storage capacity of 2339 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 772 cubic feet per second, Leon Lake plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Despite its age, Leon Lake maintains a fair condition assessment and has a high hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway type. The dam has undergone several modifications over the years, including hydraulic, mechanical, and structural improvements in 1950 and 1987. With two slide gates for outlet control, the dam is inspected annually to ensure its reliability and safety. In the event of an emergency, the risk assessment categorizes Leon Lake as having a moderate risk level, emphasizing the importance of effective risk management measures for the surrounding community.
Located in the picturesque city of Collbran, Leon Lake not only serves as a vital irrigation source but also offers recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy its serene surroundings. With its historical significance dating back over a century, this reservoir continues to play a significant role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Leon Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 8 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 39 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Terror Creek At Mouth Near Bowie | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leon Lake.
Boat launches
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
Campgrounds
- Weir And Johnson
- Weir & Johnson Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Twin Lake
- Twin Lake Dispersed Camping Area
- Big Creek
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Fork Terror Creek
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Deep Creek
- Bogan Canyon
- Avalanche Down
- South Fork--Headwaters To Beaver Lake
More reservoirs
Track Leon Lake 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 Leon Lake
Where does the data for Leon Lake 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 Leon Lake.