Meridian Lake dam
Meridian Lake
Meridian Lake, also known as Long Lake, is a privately owned water resource nestled in Gunnison, Colorado, near the city of Crested Butte. This reservoir serves multiple purposes, including irrigation, recreation, and water supply. Built in 1962, the earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and has a storage capacity of 188 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 123 acre-feet and a surface area of 28 acres.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Meridian Lake undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of 2014, the reservoir poses minimal risk to its surrounding environment. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway can handle a maximum discharge of 300 cubic feet per second, providing an effective way to manage water levels during periods of high inflow.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Meridian Lake not only for its functional purpose in irrigation but also for its contribution to recreational activities and water supply in the region. The reservoir's strategic location within the Washington Gulch drainage area further highlights its importance in the local ecosystem, making it a valuable asset in the management of water resources and climate resilience efforts in Colorado.
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 Meridian Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East River Bl Cement Creek Nr Crested Butte | 694 cfs | → |
| East River At Almont Co. | 605 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 99 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Almont | 264 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen | 54 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Aspen | 138 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meridian Lake.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Road Gunnison County
- South Bank Day Use Area/ Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Bear Road Gunnison County
- Slot #2 Day Use Area/Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Boat Dock Road Gunnison County
- Wingo Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Oh-Be-Joyful Campground
- Gothic Campground
- Gothic
- Gothic Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Lake Irwin Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Lake Irwin
Fishing spots
- Lake Irwin
- Meridian Lake
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Spring Creek Reservoir
- Paonia Reservoir
Track Meridian Lake 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 Meridian Lake
Where does the data for Meridian Lake 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 Meridian Lake.