Tomahawk dam
Tomahawk
Tomahawk is a privately owned earth dam located in Gunnison, Colorado, specifically in the city of Paonia. It was designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1957 for the primary purpose of irrigation. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a hydraulic height of 32 feet, with a length of 388 feet and a storage capacity of 144 acre-feet.
The dam serves multiple purposes including irrigation, fire protection, stock, small fish pond, and recreation. It is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite being in fair condition as of the last assessment in September 2019, Tomahawk has a significant hazard potential and a high risk assessment ranking, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Located along Muddy Creek, Tomahawk plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With its historical significance dating back over six decades, the dam remains a key feature in the local landscape and a vital infrastructure for supporting agricultural activities in the area. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the intricate design and engineering behind Tomahawk, as well as the ongoing efforts to maintain its integrity and mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
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 Tomahawk -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 45 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset | 397 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek At Highway 133 At Mouth Nr Bowie | 2 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
| Minnesota Creek Near Paonia | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tomahawk.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Paonia State Park
- Williams Creek Dispersed Camping Area
- Erickson Springs
- Erickson Springs Campground- Paonia Rd
- Bogan Flats Group Campground
- Bogan Flats
Fishing spots
- Paonia Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Lake Irwin
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Meridian Lake
- Overland Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Deep Creek
- Bogan Canyon
- South Fork--Headwaters To Beaver Lake
- Crystal Mill Falls
- Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With South Fork
- North Fork--Headwaters To Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Tomahawk 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 Tomahawk
Where does the data for Tomahawk 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 Tomahawk.