Dry Fork Reservoir dam
Dry Fork Reservoir
Dry Fork Reservoir, located in Delta, Colorado, is a gravity dam constructed in 1962 by the Bureau of Land Management for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. With a structural height of 65 feet and a hydraulic height of 36 feet, the reservoir has a storage capacity of 20.06 acre-feet and covers an area of 8.8 acres. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Department of Water Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards.
Despite its low hazard potential, Dry Fork Reservoir plays a crucial role in providing water resources for the surrounding area and supporting local wildlife. The reservoir is located off the Dry Fork stream and serves as a vital source for fire protection and agricultural needs. With a history of receiving state permits and inspections, the dam is well-maintained and continues to serve its intended purposes effectively.
As a federally owned structure, Dry Fork Reservoir exemplifies the collaboration and stewardship of water resources between different agencies. With its historical significance and contribution to the local ecosystem, the reservoir stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in mitigating climate challenges and ensuring water security for future generations.
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 Dry Fork Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnison River At Delta | 768 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Delta | 102 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 37 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 413 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 31 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 417 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Fork Reservoir.
⚓ Boat launches
- Shea Road Delta County
- Orchard Boat Launch
- Escalante Boat Launch
- Escalante Canyon Road Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Delta County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Cottonwood Grove Campground
- Blacker
- Entrada Bench (Across From Enhanted Camp)
- Enchanted Forest
- T Dyke
- Island Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
🎣 Fishing spots
- Gunnison River
- Confluence Lake
- Fruitgrowers Reservoir
- Porter Reservoir #1
- Porter Reservoir #4 (Little Davies)
- Sweitzer Lake
🛶 Paddle runs
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
- Potter Creek
- Monitor Creek
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Dry Fork 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 Dry Fork Reservoir
Where does the data for Dry Fork 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 Dry Fork Reservoir.