Sugar Loaf dam
Sugar Loaf
Sugar Loaf, also known as Turquoise Lake, is a federal-owned dam located in Lake County, Colorado. The primary purpose of this earth dam, completed in 1968 by the Bureau of Reclamation, is irrigation. However, it also serves recreational and water supply purposes, showcasing its multi-faceted importance in the region. With a height of 125 feet and a storage capacity of 135,525 acre-feet, Sugar Loaf plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Situated on the Lake Fork of the Arkansas River, Sugar Loaf has a high hazard potential and is regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The dam's spillway, with a width of 17 feet, is uncontrolled, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 2,920 cubic feet per second. The dam's inspection frequency is once per year, with the last inspection conducted in September 2020. Despite the high hazard potential, the risk assessment for Sugar Loaf is moderate, indicating a manageable level of risk associated with the dam.
Overall, Sugar Loaf is a vital infrastructure asset in the region, providing essential irrigation water, recreational opportunities, and water supply reliability. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this dam serves as a key component of water resource management in Colorado, highlighting the importance of sustainable and safe water infrastructure 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 Sugar Loaf -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork Below Sugar Loaf Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Leadville | 75 cfs | → |
| Ef Arkansas R At Us Hiway 24 | 34 cfs | → |
| Halfmoon Creek Near Malta | 62 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta | 113 cfs | → |
| Wurtz Ditch Near Tenneessee Pass | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sugar Loaf.
Boat launches
- Matchless Boating Site
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Abe Lee Fishing Site
- Turquoise Lake
- Crystal Lakes
- Crystal Lake Fishing Site
- Hayden Meadows Reservoir
- Homestake Reservoir
Track Sugar Loaf 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 Sugar Loaf
Where does the data for Sugar Loaf 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 Sugar Loaf.