Fairview # 1 dam
Fairview # 1
Fairview #1, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a privately owned irrigation dam completed in 1871 on the South Platte River. With a dam height of 12 feet and a length of 1250 feet, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation and has a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Despite being last inspected in 1991, with an inspection frequency of 6 years, Fairview #1 is regulated and permitted by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. It is designed as an uncontrolled spillway type structure with a spillway width of 30 feet. The dam is in fair condition as it has not been rated recently, and emergency action plans and risk management measures are not specified.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in historical irrigation infrastructure in Colorado will find Fairview #1 an intriguing structure to study. With its location on the South Platte River and its long history of providing water for agricultural purposes, this dam represents a significant part of the state's water management system. Fairview #1's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Fairview # 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Waterton | 52 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 7 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 21 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairview # 1.
Boat launches
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Chatfield Reservoir
- Platte Canyon Ditch
- Chatfield Lake
- South Platte Park Ponds (Littleton Flood Plain Ponds)
- Eaglewatch Lake
- Redstone Park Pond
Paddle runs
- Idledale To Morrison
- Wigman Club To Strontia Reservoir
- Cliffdale To Confluence With South Platte
- Foxton
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
More reservoirs
Track Fairview # 1 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 Fairview # 1
Where does the data for Fairview # 1 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 Fairview # 1.