Bauer Lake #1 dam
Bauer Lake #1
Located in Montezuma County, Colorado, Bauer Lake #1, also known as Upper Bauer, is a private dam used primarily for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1907, this earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet with a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a structural height of 30 feet. It has a storage capacity of 510 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 350 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 32 acres. The dam is situated on Chicken Creek-OS and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in October 2020, Bauer Lake #1 has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 85 feet. The dam also features a single slide (sluice gate) as its outlet gate. It is crucial for sustaining irrigation activities in the area and plays a vital role in managing water resources for agricultural use. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality in the face of changing climate conditions.
Bauer Lake #1 serves as a valuable water resource infrastructure in the region, contributing to the agricultural landscape and supporting the local economy. As a privately owned dam, it underscores the collaborative efforts between private entities and state regulators in managing water rights and ensuring the sustainable use of water for irrigation purposes. With its historical significance dating back over a century, Bauer Lake #1 stands as a testament to the enduring importance of water management in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Bauer Lake #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Canyon Creek Near Dolores | 0 cfs | → |
| Dolores River At Dolores | 626 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At Hesperus | 79 cfs | → |
| Dolores River Below Rico | 332 cfs | → |
| Mud Creek At State Highway 32 | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Above Trail Canyon Near Cortez | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bauer Lake #1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Dolores---Source To Confluence With Mainstem
- Dolores River - Mcphee To Bedrock Segment In Tres Rios Field Office
- West Section Line Sec 2, T38n, R16w (Below Mcphee Reservoir) To Bradfield Ranch Bridge
- Dolores Canyon (Bradfield To Slickrock)
- Beaver Creek
More reservoirs
Track Bauer Lake #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 Bauer Lake #1
Where does the data for Bauer Lake #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 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 Bauer Lake #1.