Mesa Creek #3 dam
Mesa Creek #3
Mesa Creek #3, also known as Mesa Lake or Fish Lake, is a privately-owned irrigation structure located in Mesa, Colorado. Built in 1890, this Earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes. Despite being in fair condition, with a significant hazard potential, the dam has undergone structural modifications in 1970 to ensure its continued functionality.
Situated on Mesa Creek, this dam plays a crucial role in water management in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 239 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 325 cubic feet per second. The dam also serves recreational purposes and spans a length of 140 feet, with a spillway width of 12 feet. The inspection frequency for Mesa Creek #3 is every two years, with the last assessment conducted in June 2020, indicating a moderate risk level.
Owned by private individuals, this dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a designated emergency action plan, Mesa Creek #3 remains a vital component of the local water infrastructure, ensuring water availability for irrigation and recreational activities while managing the risk associated with its significant hazard potential.
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 Mesa Creek #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 12 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 42 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 40 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 3,450 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mesa Creek #3.
Boat launches
- Sunset Boat Access- Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
- State Highway 65 25261, Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
Campgrounds
- Spruce Grove - Mesa
- Jumbo
- Jumbo Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Moose Manor Cabin
- Black Bear Cabin
- Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
- Glacier Springs Retention Pond (Grand Mesa)
- Mesa Lake
- Beaver Lake
- South Mesa Lake
- Sunset Lake
- Lost Lake (Grand Mesa
Track Mesa Creek #3 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 Mesa Creek #3
Where does the data for Mesa Creek #3 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 Mesa Creek #3.