Sylvan dam
Sylvan
Sylvan is a historic earth dam located in Colorado, specifically in the city of Parshall, Grand County. Built in 1910 for irrigation purposes, the dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet. The dam has undergone multiple modifications over the years, with significant upgrades in 1920, 1983, and 2000 to enhance its foundation, mechanical, and structural components.
The dam poses a high hazard potential, but its condition is currently assessed as fair. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment completed in May 2020. Despite its age, Sylvan continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and irrigation in the region, serving as a key infrastructure for the surrounding agricultural community. With its moderate risk assessment and adherence to regulatory standards, Sylvan remains an essential asset for water supply and climate resilience in the area.
Overall, Sylvan represents a blend of historical significance and functional utility, standing as a testament to early engineering efforts in water management. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the details of Sylvan's design, construction, and ongoing maintenance provide valuable insights into the intersection of human ingenuity, natural forces, and the need for sustainable water infrastructure. Its presence along the Little Muddy Creek-TR river system underscores the importance of responsible dam management and the vital role that such structures play in supporting local communities and ecosystems.
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 Sylvan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 56 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir | 17 cfs | → |
| Colorado River At Windy Gap | 135 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Leal | 100 cfs | → |
| Blue River Below Green Mountain Reservoir | 63 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Above Darling Creek | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sylvan.
Boat launches
- Co 9 Summit County
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Grand County
Campgrounds
- Morgan Gulch Rec Site Camping
- Beaver Creek Unti - Hot Sulphur State Wildlife Area
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area
- Williams Fork Reservoir - Swa
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area Campground
- Pioneer Park Campground/Day Use
Fishing spots
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Willow Creek Fishing Site
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Upper Cataract Lake
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Sylvan 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 Sylvan
Where does the data for Sylvan 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 Sylvan.