Deweese dam
Deweese
Deweese Dam, located in Canon City, Colorado, is a historic structure completed in 1903 primarily for irrigation purposes along Grape Creek. This arch-type dam stands at a height of 58 feet and has a structural height of 63 feet, providing a storage capacity of 4,441 acre-feet. With a surface area of 295 acres and a drainage area of 370, the dam serves multiple purposes including irrigation, recreation, and water supply for the surrounding area.
Managed by private owners, Deweese Dam is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam's spillway, with a width of 446 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam has a high hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in June 2020. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, there are no specific risk management measures or emergency action plans mentioned for the dam.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Deweese Dam intriguing due to its historical significance, engineering design, and multi-purpose functionality. The dam's location along Grape Creek, its impact on the local water supply, and its risk profile highlight the importance of proper management and maintenance of such critical infrastructure. The presence of a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and potential mitigation measures to ensure the safety and reliability of Deweese Dam 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 Deweese -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grape Creek Near Westcliffe | 6 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Canon City | 207 cfs | → |
| North Crestone Creek Near Crestone | 10 cfs | → |
| Cotton Creek Near Mineral Hot Springs | 9 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Parkdale | 285 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Crestone | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deweese.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Lone Pine Rec Site
- Ahra - Pinnacle Rock Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
- Ahra - Canyon Trading Post
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
- Ahra - Vallie Bridge Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Alvarado Campground
- Alvarado
- Oak Creek
- Lake Creek
- Grape Creek - Temple Canyon Park
- Five Points - Arkansas Headwaters State Rec Area
Fishing spots
Track Deweese 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 Deweese
Where does the data for Deweese 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 High 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 Deweese.