Big Pine dam
Big Pine
Big Pine, also known as Joe Moore Reservoir, is a private water resource located in Dolores, Colorado. Built in 1907 for irrigation purposes, this earth dam stands at 26 feet in height and stretches 1370 feet in length along the Lost Canyon-TR river or stream. With a storage capacity of 608 acre-feet, Big Pine serves multiple functions including fish and wildlife pond, irrigation, and recreation.
Despite being privately owned, Big Pine is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with state jurisdiction and enforcement in place. The dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam features a spillway width of 100 feet and is equipped with a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate to manage water flow and discharge.
Water enthusiasts and climate advocates interested in Big Pine will find a historic structure that continues to play a crucial role in the region's water management and agricultural activities. With its picturesque location and significant storage capacity, the reservoir offers a glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and natural resources in the scenic Montezuma County landscape.
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 Pine -- 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 | 513 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At Hesperus | 70 cfs | → |
| Mud Creek At State Highway 32 | 1 cfs | → |
| Dolores River Below Rico | 291 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Above Trail Canyon Near Cortez | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Pine.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Main - Mancos State Park
- West - Mancos State Park
- Transfer
- Transfer Campground
- Ancient Cedar
- Jersey Jim Lookout
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 Big Pine 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 Pine
Where does the data for Big Pine 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 Big Pine.