Droz Creek dam
Droz Creek
Droz Creek, also known as Tom Smith, is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Poncha Springs, Colorado. The dam, completed in 2000, stands at 32 feet high with a hydraulic height of 34 feet, serving as a vital resource for the local ecosystem. With a storage capacity of 185 acre-feet, the pond covers a surface area of 15 acres and has a drainage area of 4 square miles.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Droz Creek is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's primary purpose is for fish and wildlife conservation, with a spillway width of 126 feet and a maximum discharge of 1687 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition, with inspections conducted every two years to monitor its stability.
Located in Chaffee County, Droz Creek plays a crucial role in supporting the local biodiversity and water resources. The dam's design by Ying-Kit Choi incorporates stone core types and soil foundations, catering to the specific needs of the surrounding environment. As a hub for wildlife conservation and habitat protection, Droz Creek exemplifies the importance of sustainable water management practices in mitigating the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems.
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 Droz Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Salida | 318 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Wellsville | 380 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Nathrop | 430 cfs | → |
| Kerber Cr Abv Little Kerber Cr Nr Villa Grove | 10 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Sargents | 49 cfs | → |
| Saguache Creek Near Saguache | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Droz Creek.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Big Bend Rec Site
- Ahra - Salida East Rec Site
- Road 191 Chaffee County
- Ahra - Stone Bridge Rec Site
- Ahra - Point Bar Rec Site
- Us 50 Fremont County
Campgrounds
- Ohaver Lake
- O'Haver Lake Campground
- Alder Creek Campsites
- Salida East
- Angel Of Shavano
- Brewery Creek Guard Station Cabin
Fishing spots
- O`Haver Lake
- Frantz Lake Swa
- Riverside Ponds (Mt. Ouray Swa)
- Sands Lake Swa
- Baldwin Lake
- Chalk Lake Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Pass Creek
- Salida Town Run (Stone Bridge To Salida Ww Park)
- Arkansas River Segment 3
- Salida Whitewater Park
- Salida To Rincon
- Browns Canyon (Fisherman's Bridge To Stone Bridge)
More reservoirs
Track Droz Creek 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 Droz Creek
Where does the data for Droz Creek 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 Droz Creek.