Vega dam
Vega
Vega is a Federal-owned irrigation dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, along the Plateau Creek. Built in 1959 by the Bureau of Reclamation, Vega stands at a height of 162 feet and has a storage capacity of 38,102 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of irrigation, the dam serves to support agricultural activities in the region, covering a surface area of 1,109 acres and draining an area of 24 square miles.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 25 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for a maximum discharge of 1,650 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, Vega has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. The dam is regularly inspected and maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Vega plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, highlighting the intersection of water infrastructure, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability.
With its strategic location in Collbran, Colorado, Vega Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community, supported by federal funding and regulatory oversight. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the management and maintenance of dams like Vega are essential in ensuring a sustainable and secure water supply for both agricultural and environmental needs. Through continued monitoring and risk management measures, Vega stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to safeguard water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Vega -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 9 cfs | → |
| West Divide Creek Near Raven | 43 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vega.
Boat launches
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
Campgrounds
- Early Settlers - Vega State Park
- Pioneer - Vega State Park
- Oak Point - Vega State Park
- Aspen Grove - Vega State Park
- Bonham Lake City Park
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Fork Terror Creek
- New Castle To Silt
- Riverbend (Tibbet's) To New Castle
- South Canyon To Riverbend (Tibbet's)
More reservoirs
Track Vega 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 Vega
Where does the data for Vega 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 Vega.