Poage Dam
Poage
Poage is a privately owned Earth dam located in Rio Grande, Colorado, specifically in the city of South Fork. Built in 1906 for irrigation purposes, the dam spans 494 feet in length and stands at a height of 27 feet, with a storage capacity of 602 acre-feet. It is situated on the Beaver Creek and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, with inspection, permitting, and enforcement activities all being carried out by the state.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in July 2017. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 421 feet and is equipped with a single slide (sluice gate) outlet gate. Despite its age, the dam poses a moderate risk level and undergoes inspections every 6 years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance of Poage Dam and its vital role in supporting irrigation, fish and wildlife habitats, and recreational activities in the region. With its unique design and location on the Beaver Creek, Poage serves as a valuable example of early water management infrastructure in Colorado, highlighting the ongoing efforts to maintain and regulate such structures for the benefit of both local communities and the environment.
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 Poage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wightman Fork Bel Cropsy Creek At Summitville | 3 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork At Mouth Near Jasper | 3 cfs | → |
| Alamosa River Above Wightman Fork Near Jasper | -999 cfs | → |
| South Fork Rio Grande At South Fork | 37 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Below Platoro Reservoir | 17 cfs | → |
| Pinos Creek Near Del Norte | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Poage.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Poage
Where does the data for Poage 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 below 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.
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.