Werhonig & Gardner dam
Werhonig & Gardner
Located in Garfield County, Colorado, Werhonig & Gardner is a federal-owned dam on Battlement Creek, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Constructed in 1912 by the USDA Forest Service, this earth-type dam stands at 16 feet tall and 414 feet long, with a storage capacity of 68 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates.
Despite its age, Werhonig & Gardner has undergone structural modifications in 2002 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with a regular inspection frequency of 10 years. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it meets state permitting and inspection requirements, making it a vital component of water resource management in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Werhonig & Gardner serves as a fascinating example of early 20th-century dam engineering and management. With its historical significance, environmental impact on Battlement Creek, and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure to ensure both water security and ecosystem health 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 Werhonig & Gardner -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 12 cfs | → |
| West Divide Creek Near Raven | 50 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 3,450 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 42 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 1,940 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Werhonig & Gardner.
Boat launches
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
Campgrounds
- Oak Point - Vega State Park
- Early Settlers - Vega State Park
- Pioneer - Vega State Park
- Aspen Grove - Vega State Park
- Bonham Lake City Park
- Collbran - Cottonwood Lake
Fishing spots
- Vega Reservoir
- Jerry Creek Reservoirs
- De Camp Reservoir
- Bonham Reservoir
- Atkinson Reservoir
- Neversweat Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Werhonig & Gardner 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 Werhonig & Gardner
Where does the data for Werhonig & Gardner 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 Werhonig & Gardner.