Red Mesa Ward dam
Red Mesa Ward
Red Mesa Ward, located in La Plata, Colorado, is a privately owned Earth dam constructed in 1915 primarily for irrigation purposes along the Hay Gulch river. With a height of 59 feet and a storage capacity of 1454 acre-feet, it serves as a vital water resource in the region, encompassing a surface area of 59 acres and draining an area of 30 square miles. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 40 feet, and it features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate for water release.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Red Mesa Ward is currently in fair condition as of the last assessment in October 2020. With regular state inspection, permitting, and enforcement in place, the dam's risk management measures are deemed moderate. The dam is situated in an area with a moderate risk assessment level of 3, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and adherence to safety guidelines. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Red Mesa Ward stands as a significant structure contributing to the local irrigation infrastructure, warranting attention and care to ensure its functionality and safety for the community.
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 Red Mesa Ward -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| La Plata River At Hesperus | 73 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At Colorado-New Mexico State Line | 35 cfs | → |
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 1,130 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At La Plata | 5 cfs | → |
| Florida River At Bondad | -888 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Mesa Ward.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Pastorius Reservoir
- Animas River
- Joe Moore Reservoir
- Summit Reservoir
- Puett Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Dolores---Source To Confluence With Mainstem
- Dolores River - Mcphee To Bedrock Segment In Tres Rios Field Office
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
More reservoirs
Track Red Mesa Ward 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 Red Mesa Ward
Where does the data for Red Mesa Ward 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 Red Mesa Ward.