Guanella dam
Guanella
Guanella is a captivating water supply dam located in Clear Creek, Colorado, in the city of Empire. Completed in 2004, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 34 feet and boasts a hydraulic height of 33 feet, with a structural height of 40 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 1660 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 1340 acre-feet, Guanella serves as a crucial source of water for the region. The dam spans 1950 feet in length and covers a surface area of 52 acres, regulating the flow of the West Fork of Clear Creek-OS.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Guanella has been assessed as having a high hazard potential but remains in satisfactory condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 237 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and reliability for water resource management in the area. With its strategic location and vital role in water supply, Guanella stands as a testament to effective dam design and management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Guanella -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Abv West Fork Clear Creek Nr Empire Co | 78 cfs | → |
| West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire | 55 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Lawson | 128 cfs | → |
| Leavenworth Creek @ Mouth Nr Georgetown | 6 cfs | → |
| Berthoud Pass Ditch At Berthoud Pass | 0 cfs | → |
| S Clear Cr Abv Lwr Cabin Cr Res Spilwy Nr Georgtwn | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Guanella.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Cr 6 Grand County
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Co 9 Summit County
Campgrounds
- Empire City Rv Parking
- Georgetown Lake
- Mizpah
- Mizpah Campground
- West Chicago Creek Campground
- West Chicago Creek
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Upper Clear Creek
- Lower Snake
- Upper South Boulder Creek
- Silverthorne Town Run
- Upper Blue (Blue River Cg To Columbine Landing)
More reservoirs
Track Guanella 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 Guanella
Where does the data for Guanella 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 High 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 Guanella.