Pueblo dam
Pueblo
Pueblo, also known as Lake Pueblo, is a federally-owned water resource located in Pueblo, Colorado. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this dam was completed in 1975 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. However, it also serves various other purposes such as fish and wildlife pond, irrigation, recreation, and water supply, highlighting its importance in the region.
With a height of 200 feet and a storage capacity of over 489,000 acre-feet, Pueblo plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Situated on the Arkansas River, this dam covers a surface area of 5671 acres and has a maximum discharge capacity of 191,500 cubic feet per second. Its high hazard potential and risk assessment rating of 2 emphasize the importance of effective management and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water infrastructure.
Despite its high risk potential, Pueblo has not had a recent condition assessment available. With regulatory oversight from the Bureau of Reclamation and state agencies, including inspection, permitting, and enforcement, efforts are in place to ensure the dam's continued safe operation. As a key component of the water management system in Colorado, Pueblo remains a critical resource for flood control, irrigation, and recreational activities in the region.
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 Pueblo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Above Pueblo | 72 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Moffat Street At Pueblo | 78 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek At Pueblo | 124 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Tributary Above Hwy 227 At Pueblo | 31 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Nr Stone City | 0 cfs | → |
| Teller Reservoir Spillway Near Stone City | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pueblo.
Campgrounds
- Arkansas Point - Lake Pueblo State Park
- Juniper Breaks - Lake Pueblo State Park
- Prairie Ridge Campground
- Eagle View Campground
- Northern Plains - Lake Pueblo State Park
- Yucca Flat Campground
Fishing spots
- Valco Ponds (North Gateway Park)
- Pueblo Reservoir
- Lake Minnequa
- Teller Reservoir
- Brush Hollow Reservoir
- Lake Beckwith
Paddle runs
Track Pueblo 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 Pueblo
Where does the data for Pueblo 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 Pueblo.