Vouga dam
Vouga
Vouga is a private water resource located in Gunnison, Colorado, specifically on Razor Creek. This earth dam was completed in 1978 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 56 feet and a storage capacity of 1450 acre-feet, Vouga has a surface area of 50 acres and a maximum discharge of 4550 cubic feet per second. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and is inspected and enforced regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its high hazard potential and unsatisfactory condition assessment, Vouga remains a crucial water infrastructure in Saguache County, Colorado. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled and its outlet gates consist of slide gates and uncontrolled mechanisms. The risk assessment for Vouga indicates a moderate level of risk (3), prompting the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures. Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision dating back to January 2021, ensuring readiness in case of any unforeseen events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Vouga dam can appreciate its role in supporting irrigation activities in the region. With its strategic location within the Razor Creek watershed, Vouga plays a vital role in managing water resources for agricultural needs. While facing challenges such as its high hazard potential and unsatisfactory condition, the dam's importance in water management and irrigation cannot be understated. Continued monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the safety and functionality of Vouga for both current and future water resource needs in the area.
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 Vouga -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cochetopa Creek Below Rock Creek Nr Parlin | 7 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Sargents | 46 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Gunnison | 10 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Near Gunnison | 668 cfs | → |
| Ohio Creek Above Mouth Nr Gunnison | 15 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Almont | 264 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vouga.
Boat launches
- Silver Thread Scenic Byway Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
- South Bank Day Use Area/ Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Slot #2 Day Use Area/Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
Campgrounds
- Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area
- Needle Creek Reservoir
- Cochetopa Site #4
- Cochetopa Site #5
- Cochetopa Site #6
- Cochetopa Site #3
Fishing spots
Track Vouga 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 Vouga
Where does the data for Vouga 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 Vouga.