Thibodeaux dam
Thibodeaux
Thibodeaux is a private earth dam located in Ignacio, Colorado, along the Wickenson Gulch. Owned privately and regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes with a height of 15 feet and a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and a high risk assessment rating of 2, Thibodeaux poses a potential risk to its surroundings.
Designed by Steve Winters and having undergone a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019, Thibodeaux lacks a spillway and relies on uncontrolled outlet gates. Despite its age of completion being unspecified, regular inspections take place every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's location in La Plata County, Colorado, under the jurisdiction of the state's regulatory agency, reinforces the importance of its maintenance and management for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
With a modest surface area of 2 acres and a drainage area of 1, Thibodeaux has a maximum discharge capacity of 600 cubic feet per second. Its risk assessment calls for heightened risk management measures due to its significant hazard potential. As an important recreational structure in the area, Thibodeaux serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between ecologic
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 Thibodeaux -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Los Pinos River Near Ignacio | 1 cfs | → |
| Vallecito Creek Near Bayfield | 396 cfs | → |
| Piedra River Near Arboles | 335 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 13 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Oxford | -888 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At La Boca | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thibodeaux.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Beaver Creek Camp 1
- Old Timers - Vallecito Reservoir
- Graham Creek Campground
- Graham Creek
- North Canyon Campground
- North Canyon - Vallecito Reservoir
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Flint Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Ef/Middle Fork At Weminuche Wilderness Boundary To Forest Development Road 631
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Thibodeaux 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 Thibodeaux
Where does the data for Thibodeaux 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 Significant 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 Thibodeaux.