Silver Jack dam
Silver Jack
Silver Jack is a federal-owned earth dam located in Gunnison, Colorado, with a primary purpose of irrigation. Built in 1971 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this structure stands at a towering height of 173 feet and has a storage capacity of 15,363 acre-feet. Situated on the East Fork of the Cimarron River, Silver Jack plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 13,520 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 6,220 cubic feet per second.
Despite its important role in water resource management, Silver Jack poses a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment being listed as "Not Available." The dam lacks a spillway and is equipped with slide gates, uncontrolled outlets, and valves for water release. The risk assessment for Silver Jack is categorized as high, emphasizing the need for regular inspection and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure. With state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, the Bureau of Reclamation oversees the operations and regulation of Silver Jack to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the surrounding communities in Delta, Colorado.
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 Silver Jack -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 250 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 93 cfs | → |
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 0 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 97 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Jack.
Boat launches
- Ouray County
- Devil's Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Us 50 Sapinero
- Dillon Pinnacles Trail Gunnison County
- Ponderosa Campground Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Silver Jack Campground - Ouray Rd
- Silver Jack
- Beaver Lake
- Beaver Lake Campground - Ouray Rd
- Jackson Guard Station
- Big Cimarron Campground - Ouray Rd
Fishing spots
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Day Use Area/ Fishing Site
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Blue Mesa Reservoir
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Gunnison Gorge
Track Silver Jack 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 Silver Jack
Where does the data for Silver Jack 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 Silver Jack.