Mc Intire dam
Mc Intire
Mc Intire, located in Huerfano, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1907 for the primary purposes of fire protection, stock, and small fish pond maintenance. With a structural height of 21 feet and a length of 510 feet, the dam provides a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 80 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 9 acres and is situated on the Huerfano River-OS, approximately 6 miles from the city of Gardner.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, Mc Intire poses a high risk due to its condition assessment being labeled as "Not Rated." The last inspection conducted on the dam was in April 1991, and it has not been given a hazard potential rating. While it is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there is limited information available on emergency action plans, risk assessment, and risk management measures for the dam.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the ecological impact and management of dams will find Mc Intire an intriguing case study. The dam's historical significance, coupled with its current risk assessment and regulatory framework, present a compelling narrative for understanding the challenges and opportunities in maintaining and monitoring water infrastructure in 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 Mc Intire -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 18 cfs | → |
| Huerfano River At Badito | 14 cfs | → |
| Ute Creek Near Fort Garland | 12 cfs | → |
| Sangre De Cristo Creek Near Fort Garland | 2 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 3 cfs | → |
| Cucharas River At Boyd Ranch | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mc Intire.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Manzanares Creek
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir
- Lake Isabel
- Mountain Home Reservoir
- Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop Sp)
Track Mc Intire 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 Mc Intire
Where does the data for Mc Intire 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 Mc Intire.