Upper Hotel Lake dam
Upper Hotel Lake
Upper Hotel Lake, located in Cedaredge, Colorado, is a privately owned reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1886, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 190 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 109 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Ward Creek, has a spillway width of 14 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 475 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential and having a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in 2015, Upper Hotel Lake poses a high risk due to its location and design. With a drainage area of zero and a surface area of 14 acres, the reservoir serves both irrigation and recreational purposes. The dam's hazard potential level and risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure in the face of changing climate conditions.
As water resources and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of Upper Hotel Lake's design, purpose, and risk profile provides valuable insight into the challenges and considerations associated with managing water infrastructure in a dynamic environment. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this reservoir serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between human activities, natural resources, and climate impacts in shaping our water landscapes.
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 Hotel Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 20 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 37 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 44 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 41 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 692 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 2,970 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Hotel Lake.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
- State Highway 65 25261, Delta County
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
Campgrounds
- Kiser Creek
- Crag Crest Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Eggleston
- Ward Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Ward Lake
- Carp Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- West Fork Terror Creek
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Deep Creek
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
More reservoirs
Track Upper Hotel Lake 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 Hotel Lake
Where does the data for Upper Hotel Lake 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 Hotel Lake.