Parker Basin #3 dam
Parker Basin #3
Parker Basin #3, also known as Big Meadows, is a privately owned irrigation structure located in Mesa County, Colorado. Built in 1899, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a storage capacity of 579 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is irrigation, but it also serves for hydroelectric purposes. With a surface area of 40 acres and a maximum discharge of 4122 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being classified with a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Parker Basin #3 has undergone multiple modifications over the years to enhance its structural integrity. The dam has been updated for hydraulic, mechanical, and structural improvements in the 1960s and 1989, ensuring its continued operation and safety. With regular inspections and a designated emergency action plan, stakeholders are actively managing risks associated with this vital water resource infrastructure.
The dam's association with Cottonwood Creek and its location in Molina, Colorado, adds to its significance in water management and climate adaptation efforts. As a key element in the local irrigation system, Parker Basin #3 serves as a reminder of our ongoing need to balance water resource utilization with environmental conservation and sustainable development practices.
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 Parker Basin #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 8 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 39 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 38 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 3,400 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 1,890 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Parker Basin #3.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Forest Road 121 Mesa County
- Big Creek Reservoir Boat Launch Grand Valley Rd
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Z Road Delta County
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
Campgrounds
- Collbran - Cottonwood Lake
- Cottonwood Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Bonham Lake City Park
- Crag Crest Campground - Grand Valley Rd
- Eggleston
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley Rd
Fishing spots
- Neversweat Reservoir
- Cottonwood Lake #4 (Grand Mesa)
- Cottonwood Lake #1 (Grand Mesa)
- Silver Lake (Grand Mesa)
- Forty Acre Lake
- Bonham Reservoir
Track Parker Basin #3 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 Parker Basin #3
Where does the data for Parker Basin #3 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 Parker Basin #3.