Cornerstone Pond No. 4 dam
Cornerstone Pond No. 4
Cornerstone Pond No. 4, located in Montrose, Colorado, is a privately owned irrigation reservoir constructed with an earth dam in 2007. With a height of 46 feet and a storage capacity of 167 acre-feet, this reservoir serves the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
The reservoir's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 20 feet, and it has a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment in 2019 was deemed satisfactory. The risk assessment for Cornerstone Pond No. 4 is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. The reservoir is situated on the Cottonwood-OS river/stream and falls under the jurisdiction of the Albuquerque District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With its strategic location and essential role in irrigation, Cornerstone Pond No. 4 is a critical water resource in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Cornerstone Pond No. 4 an intriguing case study due to its modern construction, regulatory oversight, and importance for irrigation purposes. The reservoir's efficient design, satisfactory condition assessment, and moderate risk profile highlight the balance between water management and safety considerations. As a key component of the local water infrastructure in Ouray County, Colorado, this reservoir exemplifies the intersection of human resource development and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns and water availability challenges.
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 Cornerstone Pond No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 88 cfs | → |
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 0 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 224 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 48 cfs | → |
| San Miguel River Near Placerville | 259 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ouray | 260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cornerstone Pond No. 4.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Jutten Camp
- Ridgway State Park
- Silesca Guard Station
- Buckhorn Lakes Dispersed Campsites
- Iron Springs Campground - Ouray Rd
- Iron Springs Campground
Fishing spots
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Chipeta Lakes Swa
- Beaver Lake Day Use Area/ Fishing Site
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
- Sheep Corrals Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Norwood Canyon
- San Miguel River Segment 1
- San Miguel River Segment 2
- Saltado Creek
- San Miguel River Segment 3
- Ledges
More reservoirs
Track Cornerstone Pond No. 4 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 Cornerstone Pond No. 4
Where does the data for Cornerstone Pond No. 4 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 Cornerstone Pond No. 4.