Delta Control dam
Delta Control
Delta Control, located in Delta, Colorado, is a vital structure managed by the local government for water supply purposes. This earth dam on the Gunnison River-TR stands at 24 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 26 feet, serving as a crucial resource for the region since its completion in 1961. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Delta Control ensures a reliable water storage capacity of 54 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 34 acre-feet, catering to the water needs of the area.
The dam, primarily made of stone core and resting on rock and soil foundations, spans a length of 470 feet and has a spillway width of 12 feet. Despite its age, Delta Control undergoes regular inspections every six years to maintain its operational efficiency and safety standards. With a maximum discharge capacity of 353 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and ensuring water resource management in the region, contributing to the overall climate resilience and sustainability efforts.
As a state-regulated and permitted facility with enforcement and inspection mechanisms in place by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR), Delta Control exemplifies responsible water infrastructure management. With a risk assessment indicating high risk level 2, the dam's management continues to monitor and implement risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding communities and enhance the resilience of the water supply system. Delta Control stands as a testament to the importance of effective water resource management in mitigating climate-related challenges and ensuring sustainable water supply for the future.
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 Delta Control -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnison River At Delta | 768 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Delta | 102 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 37 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 413 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 31 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 417 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Delta Control.
⚓ Boat launches
- Shea Road Delta County
- Orchard Boat Launch
- Escalante Boat Launch
- Escalante Canyon Road Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Delta County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Cottonwood Grove Campground
- Entrada Bench (Across From Enhanted Camp)
- Blacker
- Enchanted Forest
- T Dyke
- Boulder Garden
🎣 Fishing spots
- Gunnison River
- Confluence Lake
- Fruitgrowers Reservoir
- Sweitzer Lake
- Porter Reservoir #1
- Porter Reservoir #4 (Little Davies)
🛶 Paddle runs
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
- Potter Creek
- Monitor Creek
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Delta Control 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 Delta Control
Where does the data for Delta Control 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 Delta Control.