Rainbow Falls #5 dam
Rainbow Falls #5
Rainbow Falls #5 is a private dam located in Deckers, Colorado, along Trout Creek. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at 20 feet tall and stretches 210 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Rainbow Falls #5 is for recreational use, offering visitors a serene spot to enjoy nature and water activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Rainbow Falls #5 has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition, with the last inspection conducted in September 2013. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 14 feet. The risk assessment for this structure is moderate, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and potential management measures to ensure its safety and integrity for the surrounding community.
In the picturesque setting of Douglas County, Colorado, Rainbow Falls #5 serves as a vital recreational resource for locals and visitors alike. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and safety of structures like Rainbow Falls #5 become increasingly important to preserve the natural beauty and functionality of the area.
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 Rainbow Falls #5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trout Creek Blw Fern Cr Nr Westcreek | 1 cfs | → |
| West Cr. Abv Shrewsbury Gulch Nr Westcreek Co | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Cheesman Lake | 229 cfs | → |
| So. Platte R. Blw Brush Cr. Nr Trumbull Co | 229 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Above Cheesman Lake | 263 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rainbow Falls #5.
Boat launches
- Forest Road 96.I Park County
- Tarryall Road Park County
- Thirtynine Mile Road Park County
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Manitou Lake
- Cheesman Reservoir
- South Platte River
- Upper Reservoir - Palmer Lake
- Palmer Lake
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
Track Rainbow Falls #5 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 Rainbow Falls #5
Where does the data for Rainbow Falls #5 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 Rainbow Falls #5.