Bunte dam
Bunte
Bunte, a privately owned irrigation dam located in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, has been regulating the flow of Coyote Creek since its completion in 1911. With a dam height of 24 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, Bunte provides essential water storage for irrigation purposes in the region. The dam has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4 acres, serving a drainage area of 6 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Bunte's condition assessment in 2017 was deemed unsatisfactory, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential improvements. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 5 feet and a single slide gate for outlet control. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a call for enhanced risk management measures and regular inspections to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. The regulatory oversight of the Colorado Division of Water Resources includes permitting, inspection, and enforcement to uphold dam safety standards and protect the surrounding community from potential risks.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts delve into the details of Bunte's infrastructure, they are met with a historical landmark that continues to play a critical role in the irrigation network of Grand County. The dam's location within the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices and the ongoing need for monitoring and maintenance to safeguard against potential risks and ensure the long-term viability of this essential water resource infrastructure.
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 Bunte -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River At Windy Gap | 149 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Below Willow Creek Reservoir | 7 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Granby | 77 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Below Lake Granby | 103 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Bl Shadow Mountain Reservoir | 233 cfs | → |
| Fraser River Blw Crooked Cr At Tabernash Co | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bunte.
Boat launches
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Grand County
- Hilltop Boating Site
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
Campgrounds
- Willow Creek
- Sunset Point
- Stillwater
- Pioneer Park Campground/Day Use
- Sawmill Gulch
- Cutthroat Bay Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Willow Creek Fishing Site
- Granby Lake
- Shadow Mountain Reservoir
- Monarch Lake
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Meadow Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road
- Begins 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road To Ends Where River Segment Exits Rocky Mountain National Park
- Gore Canyon
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of Fern Lake Road
- Colorado River Segment 4
Track Bunte 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 Bunte
Where does the data for Bunte 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 Bunte.