Upper Railroad dam
Upper Railroad
Upper Railroad is a privately owned earth dam located in La Plata, Colorado, along Basin Creek-TR. Built in 1960 for irrigation purposes, this dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a length of 325 feet, with a storage capacity of 22 acre-feet. While primarily used for irrigation, it also serves recreational purposes in the area.
Despite being categorized as having low hazard potential, Upper Railroad's condition assessment in 2009 was deemed unsatisfactory. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a single valve outlet gate. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a risk level of 3. The last inspection date was in September 2009, with an inspection frequency of every 6 years, indicating potential maintenance and safety concerns that may need to be addressed.
Located in a picturesque setting in the city of Bondad, this dam presents a unique intersection of water resource management and recreational opportunities. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, Upper Railroad serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Upper Railroad -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| La Plata River At Hesperus | 79 cfs | → |
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 12 cfs | → |
| Florida River At Bondad | -888 cfs | → |
| Animas River Near Cedar Hill | 1,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Railroad.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Animas River
- Pastorius Reservoir
- Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Elbert Creek
- Joe Moore Reservoir
- Lemon Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Dolores---Source To Confluence With Mainstem
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Dolores River - Mcphee To Bedrock Segment In Tres Rios Field Office
More reservoirs
Track Upper Railroad 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 Upper Railroad
Where does the data for Upper Railroad 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 Upper Railroad.