Bonny dam
Bonny
Bonny Dam, located in Yuma, Colorado, along the South Republican River, is a federal structure owned and regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Completed in 1951, the earth dam stands at 130 feet in height and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, irrigation, and recreation. With a storage capacity of 348,390 acre-feet and a surface area of 8,565 acres, Bonny Dam plays a critical role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam has undergone modifications in 1994 to enhance its hydraulic, structural, and overall integrity. With a spillway width of 138 feet, the dam is equipped to handle a maximum discharge of 73,300 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential and very high risk assessment rating, the condition of Bonny Dam is currently listed as "Not Available." Emergency action plans are in place, but details on their readiness and adherence to guidelines remain unspecified. With its strategic location and significant role in water resource management, Bonny Dam is a key asset in mitigating flood risks and supporting various water-related activities in the surrounding area.
As a crucial component of the water infrastructure in Colorado, Bonny Dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam management and maintenance. With its rich history and vital functions in flood control, irrigation, and recreation, the dam serves as a symbol of the ongoing efforts to balance water resource utilization with environmental conservation. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Bonny Dam to be a fascinating case study in the careful management of water infrastructure for the benefit of both human communities and the natural environment.
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 Bonny -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Republican R Nr Co-Ks St Line | 2 cfs | → |
| Arikaree River At Haigler | 10 cfs | → |
| North Fork Republican River At Colorado-Nebraska | 31 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Haigler | 1 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek At Parks | 4 cfs | → |
| South Fork Republican River Near Benkelman | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonny.
Campgrounds
- East Beach - Bonny Lake State Park
- North Cove - Bonny Lake State Park
- Wagon Wheel - Bonny Lake State Park
- Foster Grove - Bonny Lake State Park
- St. Francis City Campground
Track Bonny 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 Bonny
Where does the data for Bonny 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 Bonny.