Bull Creek #5 dam
Bull Creek #5
Bull Creek #5 is a privately owned Earth dam in Mesa, Colorado, built in 1901 for irrigation purposes on Bull Creek. With a height of 26 feet and a length of 1000 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 381 acre-feet and serves the dual purpose of irrigation and water supply. The dam has a spillway width of 37 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 720 cubic feet per second, making it a significant structure in the region.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Bull Creek #5 is in fair condition, as of the last assessment in August 2019. The dam has undergone modifications in 1947, including improvements to its foundation, hydraulic system, and structure. It is inspected biennially, with the most recent inspection showing that the dam meets regulatory standards set by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, there are no current risk management measures or emergency action plans in place, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
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 Bull Creek #5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 8 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 37 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 34 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 3,600 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 1,980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bull Creek #5.
Boat launches
- Z Road Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Sunset Boat Access- Grand Valley Rd
- State Highway 65 25261, Delta County
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
Campgrounds
- Cottonwood Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Collbran - Cottonwood Lake
- Cobbett Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Carp Lake
- Little Bear Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Island Lake
Fishing spots
- Cottonwood Lake #1 (Grand Mesa)
- Island Lake (Grand Mesa)
- Cobbett (Carp) Lake
- Water Dog Reservoir
- Ward Lake
- Little Gem Reservoir
Track Bull Creek #5 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 Bull Creek #5
Where does the data for Bull Creek #5 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 Significant 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 Bull Creek #5.