Vallecito dam
Vallecito
Vallecito Reservoir, located in La Plata County, Colorado, is a federal-owned structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Completed in 1940, this Earth dam stands at a height of 162 feet, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a storage capacity of 136,200 acre-feet, it plays a crucial role in supporting various functions including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation.
The reservoir, situated along the Los Pinos River, covers a surface area of 2,803 acres and has a drainage area of 255 square miles. While it does not have a spillway, it is equipped with outlet gates for water management. Vallecito Reservoir is subject to regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Its hazard potential is rated as high, emphasizing the importance of effective risk management strategies.
Vallecito Reservoir serves as a vital water resource for the region, offering a balance between conservation efforts and recreational opportunities. Its strategic location and design make it a significant asset for fish and wildlife habitat, as well as for the local community's water needs. With its rich history and ongoing management by the Bureau of Reclamation, Vallecito stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management 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 Vallecito -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vallecito Creek Near Bayfield | 420 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 13 cfs | → |
| Los Pinos River Near Ignacio | 1 cfs | → |
| Animas River Above Tacoma | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 944 cfs | → |
| Animas River Blw Durango Pump Plant Nr Durango | 901 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vallecito.
Campgrounds
- Old Timers - Vallecito Reservoir
- Graham Creek Campground
- Graham Creek
- North Canyon Campground
- North Canyon - Vallecito Reservoir
- Pine Point - Vallecito Reservoir
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Fdr 631 To Indian Creek
- Indian Creek To Co Hwy 160
- Flint Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Sierra Vandera--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
Track Vallecito 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 Vallecito
Where does the data for Vallecito 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 Vallecito.