Meridian Lake Park #1 dam
Meridian Lake Park #1
Meridian Lake Park #1, located in Crested Butte, Colorado, is a public utility water supply facility regulated by the Department of Water Resources. This earth-type dam, completed in 1980, stands at a height of 66 feet and has a storage capacity of 192 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Washington Gulch river, serves the primary purpose of providing water supply to the surrounding area.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment, Meridian Lake Park #1 undergoes inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity. The dam has a spillway width of 40 feet and is equipped with slide and uncontrolled gates for outlet purposes. Despite its high risk assessment level, the dam has not been modified in recent years and remains crucial in managing the water resources of Gunnison County.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the strategic location and design of Meridian Lake Park #1, which plays a vital role in water supply management in the region. Its operational efficiency and compliance with state regulations make it a key asset in safeguarding against water-related risks and ensuring the sustainable use of resources in the Gunnison area.
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 Park #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East River Bl Cement Creek Nr Crested Butte | 597 cfs | → |
| East River At Almont Co. | 544 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Almont | 261 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen | 53 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 92 cfs | → |
| Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir | 148 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meridian Lake Park #1.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Road Gunnison County
- South Bank Day Use Area/ Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Slot #2 Day Use Area/Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Bear Road Gunnison County
- Boat Dock Road Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
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)
- Spring Creek Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Paonia Reservoir
Track Meridian Lake Park #1 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 Park #1
Where does the data for Meridian Lake Park #1 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 Meridian Lake Park #1.