Valley No. 2 dam
Valley No. 2
Valley No. 2 is a historic earth dam located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, completed in 1906 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at 42 feet in height, the dam holds a storage capacity of 252 acre-feet and spans 350 feet in length. Situated on Camp Creek-TR, the dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 8 feet. Despite its age, Valley No. 2 has a high hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, prompting regular inspections to ensure public safety.
This dam, managed by the local government, is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and falls under state jurisdiction for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Valley No. 2 is deemed to have a level of risk that warrants attention and management measures. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam has been prepared, but its last revision dates back to May 2017, raising questions about the adequacy of the current response strategies in case of a disaster. The dam's location within El Paso County, Colorado, and its proximity to the Omaha District highlight the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks to the surrounding community and environment.
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 Valley No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Creek Near Colorado Springs | 12 cfs | → |
| Camp Creek At Garden Of The Gods | · | → |
| Williams Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Colorado Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Monument Cr At Bijou St. | 34 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley No. 2.
Campgrounds
- Wye
- Thunder Ridge Campground
- Thunder Ridge
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Meadow Ridge
- Peregrine Pines Family Camp
Fishing spots
- Pikeview Reservoir
- Prospect Lake (Colorado Springs)
- Quail Lake
- Nichols Reservoir
- Homestake Fishing Site
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Valley No. 2 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 Valley No. 2
Where does the data for Valley No. 2 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 Valley No. 2.