Sappington dam
Sappington
Located in Archuleta County, Colorado, the Sappington dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. Constructed in 1981, this earth dam stands at a height of 60 feet and has a storage capacity of 421 acre-feet. Managed by a private owner, the dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures.
With a spillway width of 20 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 800 cubic feet per second, the Sappington dam poses a significant hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. The dam's emergency action plan was last updated in 2008, and it meets regulatory guidelines for risk management. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level, the dam's location in the Coyote Creek watershed provides vital water resources for irrigation, wildlife preservation, and emergency fire suppression efforts in the region.
Overall, Sappington dam stands as a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the area, providing essential services for both agricultural and environmental purposes. Climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals alike can appreciate the dam's role in maintaining a delicate balance between human needs and ecological sustainability in the Colorado 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 Sappington -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 89 cfs | → |
| Rio Blanco Bl Blanco Div Dam | 41 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 197 cfs | → |
| San Juan River At Pagosa Springs | 804 cfs | → |
| East Fork San Juan River Nr Pagosa Springs | -888 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Below Platoro Reservoir | 305 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sappington.
Campgrounds
- Blanco River Group Campground
- Blanco River
- Pagosa Riverside Campground
- East Fork
- Trujillo Meadows Campground
- Trujillo Meadows
Fishing spots
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
- Trujillo Meadows Lake
- Spectacle Lake Fishing Site
- Platoro Reservoir
- Lost Lake
Paddle runs
- Lower Branch--Sec 28, T33n, R3e; Upper Branch--Sec 15, T33n, R3e To Sec 7, T32n, R4e
- Dipping Lakes--Sec 5, T33n, R4e To Confluence With West Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
- Sec 1, T33n, R3e To Confluence With East Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
- North Fork--Sec 8, T35n, R2e To Confluence With Middle Fork
- Middle Fork--Sec 13, T35n, R2e To Confluence Of Three Forks--Sec 14, T35n, R3e
- El Rito Azul--Blue Lake (Sec 26, T35n, R3e) And Portion Of Conejos Above Platoro Reservoir To Upper Reach Of Platoro Reservoir--Sec 6, T35n, R4e
Track Sappington 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 Sappington
Where does the data for Sappington 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 Sappington.