Bison Park dam
Bison Park
Bison Park, also known as Victor or Big Bison, is a water resource marvel nestled in Teller County, Colorado. Built in 1902, this Earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet, with a length of 900 feet and a storage capacity of 1,548 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Bison Park is water supply, serving as a vital resource for both local government and wildlife in the area.
Located along Bison Creek in the city of Pueblo, Bison Park offers a serene retreat for water and climate enthusiasts. With a surface area of 80 acres and a drainage area of 10 square miles, this dam not only provides water supply but also supports fish and wildlife habitats, recreational activities, and flood control measures. Despite its age, Bison Park maintains a fair condition assessment and is inspected biennially to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Bison Park has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway and moderate risk rating. With its picturesque surroundings and crucial role in water management, Bison Park stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and growing environmental challenges.
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 Bison Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek Below Cripple Creek Near Victor | 4 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Colorado Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
| Cheyenne Creek At Evans Ave At Colorado Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Williams Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bison Park.
Boat launches
- Skagway Road Teller County
- Forest Road 96.I Park County
- Thirtynine Mile Road Park County
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- The Crags
- Crags Campground
- Wye
- Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
- Mueller State Park
Fishing spots
- Mason Reservoir
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
- North Catamount Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Bison Park 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 Bison Park
Where does the data for Bison Park 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 Significant 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 Bison Park.