Tatum Reservoir dam
Tatum Reservoir
Tatum Reservoir, located in Delta, Colorado, is a gravity dam built in 1959 for debris control purposes by the Bureau of Land Management. With a structural height of 28 feet and a hydraulic height of 20 feet, this reservoir has a capacity of 121.82 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.71 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and not being state-regulated, Tatum Reservoir plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Owned, funded, designed, constructed, regulated, and inspected by the Bureau of Land Management, Tatum Reservoir is a federal project that serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management. The dam's primary purpose is to control debris and its gravity design, with buttress and stone core types, showcases its durability and efficiency. The reservoir's last inspection date was in 2012, with a designated inspection frequency of 5 years, highlighting the commitment to ensuring its safety and functionality.
In addition to its practical function, Tatum Reservoir also provides a picturesque landscape for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. Situated in a serene location with no associated structures or nearby city, this reservoir offers a tranquil setting for visitors to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural resources in the beautiful Colorado scenery.
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 Tatum Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompahgre River At Delta | 133 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River At Delta | 691 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Near Grand Junction | 999 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 26 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 280 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tatum Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Escalante Boat Launch
- Escalante Canyon Road Delta County
- Shea Road Delta County
- Orchard Boat Launch
- State Highway 141 Mesa County
- Whitewater Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Escalante Potholes Rec Site
- Dominguez Campground
- Big Dominguez Campground
- Big Dominguez
- Unaweep Rim Camp 1
- Cottonwood Grove Campground
Fishing spots
- Gunnison River
- Confluence Lake
- Sweitzer Lake
- Porter Reservoir #4 (Little Davies)
- Porter Reservoir #1
- Juniata Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Potter Creek
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
- Monitor Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
More reservoirs
Track Tatum Reservoir 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 Tatum Reservoir
Where does the data for Tatum Reservoir 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 Tatum Reservoir.