Waupaca #2 dam
Waupaca #2
Waupaca #2, located in Buena Vista, Colorado, is a privately owned dam built in 1979 for irrigation purposes on the McFadden River. Designed by Wright Engineering, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a structural height of 38 feet. With a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a normal storage of 20 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Waupaca #2 is considered to have a high risk level, indicating the need for robust risk management measures. The dam, with a length of 408 feet and a surface area of 2 acres, serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power, irrigation, and recreation. While it does not have a spillway, the dam has a spillway width of 30 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1160 cubic feet per second, ensuring the safety and stability of the structure.
Owned by a private entity and regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Waupaca #2 undergoes regular inspections with a frequency of 6 years to ensure compliance with safety standards. With its strategic location in Chaffee County and its vital role in water resource management, this dam stands as a significant landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 Waupaca #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Below Granite | 350 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Above Clear Creek Reservoir | 104 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Granite | 142 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Above Twin Lakes Reservoir | 454 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta | 109 cfs | → |
| Halfmoon Creek Near Malta | 54 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waupaca #2.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Number 4 Rec Site
- Ahra - Railroad Bridge Rec Site
- Cr 390 Chaffee County
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
- Ahra - Fishermans Bridge Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Camp Site, Free, Without Facilities
- Railroad Bridge - Arkansas Headwaters State Rec Area
- Dawson Cabin
- Weston Pass Campground
- Weston Pass
- Sunnyside
Fishing spots
- Clear Creek Reservoir
- Rich Creek
- Sunnyside Fishing Site
- Whistler Point
- Big Mac Fishing Site
- Deception Point Fishing Site
Track Waupaca #2 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 Waupaca #2
Where does the data for Waupaca #2 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 Waupaca #2.