Marchiori dam
Marchiori
Marchiori is a privately owned dam located in Huerfano, Colorado, with the primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and has a length of 300 feet, providing a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Bear Creek-TR and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
Although Marchiori has a low hazard potential, it is classified as having a high risk level, indicating the need for careful monitoring and risk management measures. The dam has not been rated for its condition, with the last inspection conducted in November 1993. Despite its age, Marchiori has not undergone any modifications and does not have a spillway, relying on its structural integrity to manage water flow. The surrounding area covers 12 acres with a drainage area of 3 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 441 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by Marchiori's historical significance and its role in supporting agricultural activities in the region. The dam's location in a rural area and its reliance on manual inspections highlight the need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure its continued safety and functionality. As water resources become increasingly important in the face of climate change, understanding the infrastructure like Marchiori will be crucial for effective water management and planning for the future.
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 Marchiori -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cucharas River At Boyd Ranch | 5 cfs | → |
| Huerfano River At Badito | 14 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Turners Ranch | 6 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 3 cfs | → |
| Purgatoire River At Madrid | 9 cfs | → |
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marchiori.
Campgrounds
- Yucca - Lathrop State Park
- Pinon - Lathrop State Park
- Cordova Pass Picnic Area And Campground
- Bear Lake
- Blue Lake
- Purgatoire Campground
Fishing spots
- Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop Sp)
- Martin Lake
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir
- Huerfano State Wildlife Area
- North Lake
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With Medano Creek
- Headwaters At Medano Lake To Ends On The Sand Sheet Past The Southern End Of The Dunes
More reservoirs
Track Marchiori 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 Marchiori
Where does the data for Marchiori 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 Marchiori.