Big Creek #1 dam
Big Creek #1
Big Creek #1, located in Mesa County, Colorado, is a historic earth dam built in 1893 primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 23 feet and a storage capacity of 764 acre-feet, this dam on Big Creek serves multiple functions including fire protection, stock watering, and supplying water for various uses. The dam has a spillway width of 31 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1188 cubic feet per second, making it a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Despite being a privately owned structure, Big Creek #1 is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring compliance with state regulations and maintaining its satisfactory condition. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, but its risk assessment is moderate, indicating a level of risk management in place. The last inspection in July 2020 confirmed the dam's structural integrity, with emergency action plans in place to address any potential risks associated with its operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Big Creek #1 presents a fascinating case study of a historic dam with important implications for irrigation and water supply in the region. Its blend of engineering excellence from the past and modern regulatory oversight highlights the ongoing balance between harnessing water resources for human needs and ensuring environmental safety. As a key feature in the landscape of Plateau City, this dam serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between water management, infrastructure development, and sustainable resource use in a changing climate.
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 Big Creek #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 20 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 34 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 | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 497 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Creek #1.
⚓ Boat launches
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Big Creek
- Bonham Lake City Park
- Twin Lake Dispersed Camping Area
- Twin Lake
- Weir & Johnson Campground - Grand Valley Rd
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- West Fork Terror Creek
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Deep Creek
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Avalanche Down
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Big Creek #1 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 Big Creek #1
Where does the data for Big Creek #1 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 Big Creek #1.