Donnelly #1 dam
Donnelly #1
Donnelly #1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Cedaredge, Colorado, along Kiser Creek. Built in 1955 for irrigation purposes, the dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 428 acre-feet. With a spillway width of 15 feet and a maximum discharge of 588 cubic feet per second, the dam poses a significant hazard potential and is classified as having a fair condition assessment as of August 2019.
Despite its age, Donnelly #1 is still regularly inspected and meets state regulatory standards for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in March 2020, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place in case of a potential failure. Overall, Donnelly #1 serves as a vital piece of infrastructure for irrigation in the region, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Donnelly #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 12 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 40 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 594 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 670 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donnelly #1.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- State Highway 65 25261, Delta County
- Z Road Delta County
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
Campgrounds
- Kiser Creek
- Crag Crest Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Eggleston
- Ward Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Ward Lake
- Carp Lake
Fishing spots
Track Donnelly #1 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 Donnelly #1
Where does the data for Donnelly #1 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 Significant 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 Donnelly #1.