Tarryall dam
Tarryall
Tarryall Dam, located in Park County, Colorado, is a gravity dam completed in 1929 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 37 feet, with a total structural height of 70 feet and a length of 263 feet. It impounds Tarryall Creek, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 7,217 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 1,963 acre-feet. The dam also features a spillway with an uncontrolled type and a width of 180 feet.
Despite its recreational significance, Tarryall Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment in March 2020. The dam is under state jurisdiction and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. The risk assessment for Tarryall Dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure for both recreational users and downstream communities.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Tarryall Dam an intriguing subject for study and monitoring. Its historical significance, structural design, and risk profile provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in the face of changing climate conditions. As a recreational asset in a picturesque location, the dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure, natural ecosystems, and the challenges of maintaining water security in a dynamic environment.
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 Tarryall -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River Above Cheesman Lake | 267 cfs | → |
| S Platte R Ab 11-Mile Canyon Re | 267 cfs | → |
| Tarryall Creek At Upper Station | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Cheesman Lake | 314 cfs | → |
| So. Platte R. Blw Brush Cr. Nr Trumbull Co | 311 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Lake George | 243 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tarryall.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Tarryall Reservoir
- Wellington Lake
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir
- Cheesman Reservoir
- Pine Valley Ranch Pond
- Eleven Mile Reservoir
Track Tarryall 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 Tarryall
Where does the data for Tarryall 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 Tarryall.