John May #1 dam
John May #1
John May #1 is a private dam located in El Paso, Colorado, specifically in FT. CARSON. Built in 1967, this Earth dam stands at 25 feet tall and spans a length of 1000 feet, serving primarily for irrigation purposes. Situated on the ROCK CREEK-OS river or stream, this dam has a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 25 acre-feet. Although it has a low hazard potential, it is categorized as having a high risk with a rating of 2.
Managed by the Colorado State regulatory agency, the dam is inspected, permitted, and enforced by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). Despite not having a current condition assessment, the last inspection was conducted in October 2013. The dam has no spillway and does not have associated locks, but it is equipped to handle a maximum discharge of 300 cubic feet per second. As a critical infrastructure for water management in the area, John May #1 plays a vital role in sustaining agricultural activities and ensuring water supply reliability.
With its strategic location and importance for irrigation in the region, John May #1 serves as a key component of water resource management in Colorado. As a privately owned structure, it underscores the collaborative efforts between private entities and state regulators to safeguard water resources and mitigate risks associated with dam operations. The dam's history, design specifications, and risk assessment highlight its significance in maintaining water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 John May #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek Above Fort Carson Reservation | 0 cfs | → |
| Clover Ditch Drain At Quinn St Nr Widefield | 0 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Security | 65 cfs | → |
| Little Fountain Creek Near Fountain | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne Creek At Evans Ave At Colorado Springs | 2 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Fountain Colo | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John May #1.
Campgrounds
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Wye
- Turkey Creek Military - Fort Carson
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- The Crags
- Crags Campground
Fishing spots
- Willow Springs Ponds
- Quail Lake
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Prospect Lake (Colorado Springs)
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Mason Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track John May #1 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 John May #1
Where does the data for John May #1 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 John May #1.