Carroll Brown dam
Carroll Brown
Carroll Brown, located in Ridgeway, Colorado, is a private earth dam built in 1902 for irrigation purposes on Spring Creek. With a height of 25 feet and a length of 450 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 129 acre-feet and serves as an essential water resource in the area. Despite its fair condition assessment and low hazard potential, it is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring its safety and proper maintenance.
The dam's structure predominantly consists of stone and is supported by rock and soil foundations. It features slide and uncontrolled outlet gates, with no spillway for excess water discharge. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 140 cubic feet per second, with a normal storage level of 96 acre-feet. In the event of an emergency, the dam's risk assessment is deemed high, highlighting the need for proper risk management measures to be in place.
Overall, Carroll Brown's historical significance and vital role in irrigation make it a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its location in Ouray County, Colorado, and its association with the Albuquerque District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscore its importance in maintaining water supply and managing potential risks associated with dam infrastructure.
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 Carroll Brown -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 0 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ouray | 292 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 250 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 93 cfs | → |
| South Fork San Miguel River Near Ophir | 76 cfs | → |
| San Miguel River Near Placerville | 413 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carroll Brown.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Mill Creek Basin Backcountry Camp
- Secret Campsite
- Mary E Campground
- Telluride Town Park
- Angel Creek Campground
- Angel Creek Campground - Ouray Rd
Fishing spots
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Sheep Corrals Fishing Site
- Woods Lake
- North Fork Animas River
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Carroll Brown 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 Carroll Brown
Where does the data for Carroll Brown 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 Carroll Brown.