Upper Eggleston dam
Upper Eggleston
Upper Eggleston, also known as Little Eggleson, is a vital irrigation infrastructure located in Cedaredge, Colorado. Built in 1892, this Earth type dam stands at a height of 16 feet, with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, serving the primary purpose of irrigation. With a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet and a normal storage of 230 acre-feet, Upper Eggleston plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Situated on Kiser Creek in Delta County, Upper Eggleston is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring proper inspection, permitting, and enforcement measures are in place. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam poses minimal risk to surrounding areas. Despite its age, Upper Eggleston continues to function effectively, with a maximum discharge of 310 cubic feet per second and no spillway type.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Upper Eggleston serves as a fascinating example of historic irrigation infrastructure in Colorado, showcasing the importance of maintaining and regulating such structures for sustainable water management. With its rich history, functional design, and significant role in supporting local agriculture, Upper Eggleston stands as a testament to the enduring value of water resources 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 Upper Eggleston -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 38 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 19 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 43 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 594 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 643 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Eggleston.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
Campgrounds
- Eggleston
- Crag Crest Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Kiser Creek
- Big Creek
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Cottonwood Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
- Youngs Creek Reservoirs
- Eggleston Lake
- Forty Acre Lake
- Silver Lake (Grand Mesa)
- Baron Lake
- Park Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Fork Terror Creek
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- Deep Creek
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Gunnison Gorge
More reservoirs
Track Upper Eggleston 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 Upper Eggleston
Where does the data for Upper Eggleston 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 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 Upper Eggleston.