Burns dam
Burns
Burns is a privately owned irrigation dam located in COWDREY, Colorado, along the CHEDSEY CREEK. Completed in 1959, this Earth dam stands at 20 feet high with a storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is irrigation, but it also serves for fire protection, stock, small fish ponds, and recreation.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition, last inspected in September 2016. It has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, with inspection frequency set at 6 years. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 15 feet. Burns offers a glimpse into the intricate water management infrastructure in Colorado, highlighting the importance of maintaining and inspecting these structures for optimal performance and safety.
Located in Jackson County, Burns is a vital component of the local water resource management system, ensuring a stable water supply for irrigation and other uses. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1950s, Burns continues to play a crucial role in water distribution and management in the region. Climate and water resource enthusiasts would find Burns to be a fascinating example of human ingenuity in harnessing and managing water for various purposes while navigating regulatory and enforcement requirements.
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 Burns -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 143 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 621 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 200 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 705 cfs | → |
| Michigan River At Walden | 39 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burns.
Boat launches
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
Campgrounds
- Teal Lake
- Teal Lake Campground
- Teal Lake Group Site
- Grizzly Creek
- Grizzly Guard Station Recreation Rental
- Summit Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Lower Fish Creek
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Wy-Co State Line To Encampment River Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters (Continental Divide) And Its West Fork (From West Fork Lake) To North Section Line, Sec 21, T12n, R84w
Track Burns 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 Burns
Where does the data for Burns 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 Burns.