Vaile dam
Vaile
Vaile is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Adams County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Brighton. Completed in 1892, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a length of 2400 feet, with a capacity to store 70 acre-feet of water. The primary purpose of Vaile is for irrigation, serving as a crucial resource for water management in the region.
Despite its age, Vaile has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition assessment. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and receives state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The last inspection of Vaile was conducted in 1993, with an inspection frequency of every 6 years, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance for this historic structure.
Situated along Third Creek-OS, Vaile plays a significant role in water resource management in the area, with a risk assessment indicating a high level of risk (2). Ensuring the safety and integrity of Vaile is essential for mitigating potential risks and maintaining the reliable supply of water for irrigation purposes. As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Vaile represents both the challenges and opportunities associated with managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Vaile -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Henderson | 110 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Mouth Near Fort Lupton | 35 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 5 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vaile.
Boat launches
- Brighton
- Adams County
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- St. Vrain State Park
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
Fishing spots
- Barr Lake
- Ken Mitchell Park Pond
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
- Brighton City Park Lake
- Marshall Reservoir
- Elaine T. Valente Open Space
Track Vaile 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 Vaile
Where does the data for Vaile 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 Vaile.