Tonier Gulch dam
Tonier Gulch
Tonier Gulch, located in McCoy, Colorado, is a private earth dam built in 1946 for irrigation purposes on Toponas Creek. The dam stands at a height of 32 feet with a length of 325 feet, providing a storage capacity of 124 acre-feet. With a spillway type classified as 'Uncontrolled' and a hazard potential rated as 'Low', Tonier Gulch is deemed to be in fair condition according to a 2018 assessment. The dam's inspection frequency is every 6 years, with the last inspection conducted in July 2018.
Despite its moderate risk assessment, Tonier Gulch remains a vital water resource in Routt County, serving the agricultural community in the region. The dam's stone core and rock-soil foundation contribute to its structural integrity, ensuring its reliability in water storage and distribution. With a maximum discharge capacity of 390 cubic feet per second and an associated slide gate outlet, Tonier Gulch plays a crucial role in managing water flow for irrigation activities along Toponas Creek. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and enforcement of regulations for dams like Tonier Gulch are essential to sustainably manage water availability in the area.
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 Tonier Gulch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 6 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Kremmling | 227 cfs | → |
| Muddy Crk Blw Wolford Mtn Reser. Nr Kremmling | 20 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 73 cfs | → |
| Piney River Near State Bridge | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tonier Gulch.
Boat launches
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- Catamount Bridge Boat Ramp
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
- State Bridge River Access
Campgrounds
- Lynx Pass
- Lynx Pass Campground
- Cell Tower
- Rock Creek Recreation Area
- Blacktail Creek
- Blacktail Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Stagecoach Reservoir
- Yamcolo Reservoir
- Crosho Lake
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Casey`S Pond
Paddle runs
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
- State Bridge To Two Bridges
- Pumphouse
- Colorado River Segment 5
- Colorado River Segment 4
- Colorado River Segment 6
More reservoirs
Track Tonier Gulch 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 Tonier Gulch
Where does the data for Tonier Gulch 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 Low 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 Tonier Gulch.