Mosca dam
Mosca
Mosca, also known as Smith, is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Huerfano County, Colorado. Built in 1915, this earth dam stands at 7 feet high and spans 550 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 112 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including irrigation, fire protection, and supporting fish and wildlife habitats. Situated along the Huerfano River, Mosca plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Mosca is considered to have a high risk level due to its age and condition assessment being rated as "Not Rated." The last inspection of the dam took place in July 1978, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While the dam currently does not have a spillway, it is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, which oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement to mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mosca presents an intriguing case study of a historic irrigation dam in need of modernization and risk management measures. With its location in a scenic part of Colorado and its importance for supporting agricultural activities and local ecosystems, the preservation and maintenance of Mosca are essential for sustainable water management practices in the region. As discussions around climate change and water scarcity continue, the future of Mosca will be closely monitored to ensure its continued functionality and safety for the community it serves.
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 Mosca -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 12 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Crestone | 7 cfs | → |
| Huerfano River At Badito | 8 cfs | → |
| Ute Creek Near Fort Garland | 11 cfs | → |
| Sangre De Cristo Creek Near Fort Garland | 2 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mosca.
⛺ Campgrounds
- Buck Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Pinyon Flats Campground
- Pinyon Flats - Sand Dunes National Monument
- Campsite 2.2
- Campsite 1.8
- Campsite 3.4
🎣 Fishing spots
- Manzanares Creek
- San Luis Lake
- Mountain Home Reservoir
- Lake Isabel
- Smith Reservoir (Costilla Cty)
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
Track Mosca 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 Mosca
Where does the data for Mosca 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 Mosca.