Fairview dam
Fairview
Fairview, located in Montrose, Colorado, is a vital water resource managed by a public utility. This earth dam, completed in 1968, stands at a height of 45 feet and serves primarily for irrigation and water supply purposes. With a storage capacity of 540 acre-feet and a spillway width of 100 feet, Fairview plays a crucial role in managing the Uncompahgre River's flow and ensuring water availability for the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Fairview's condition is assessed as fair, with regular inspections and maintenance conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2015, meeting guidelines to address any potential risks. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Fairview continues to be a key asset in water management for the region, under the regulatory oversight of the Colorado Department of Water Resources.
Situated within the Albuquerque District, Fairview's strategic location and design make it a critical infrastructure for water storage and distribution in Montrose. As climate change impacts water resources, Fairview's role in ensuring sustainable water supply and irrigation for the community underscores its importance for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Fairview -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 83 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 42 cfs | → |
| Smith Fork Near Lazear | 1 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 96 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairview.
Boat launches
- Chukar Boat Ramp
- Ouray County
- Orchard Boat Launch
- Shea Road Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Delta County
Campgrounds
- Cedar Creek Rv Park
- South Rim Campground
- South Rim - Gunnison National Park
- East Portal - Curecanti National Rec Area
- East Portal Campground
- North Rim Campground
Fishing spots
- Chipeta Lakes Swa
- Crystal Reservoir
- Gould Reservoir
- Crawford Reservoir
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir
Paddle runs
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Gunnison Gorge
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
Track Fairview 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 Fairview
Where does the data for Fairview 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 Fairview.