Wee Ruby dam
Wee Ruby
Wee Ruby, also known as Fuchs Reservoir, is a private irrigation dam located in Mineral County, Colorado. Built in 1934, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet with a length of 385 feet, providing a storage capacity of 264 acre-feet for agricultural purposes. Situated on Texas Creek-TR, Wee Ruby plays a crucial role in the water resource management of the region, with a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Wee Ruby undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations. With a spillway type of uncontrolled and an outlet gate design of a slide (sluice gate), this dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1750 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Wee Ruby serves as a vital piece of infrastructure for water distribution in the area, demonstrating the intersection of climate resilience and water resource management in the face of changing environmental conditions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wee Ruby presents a fascinating case study of a historic irrigation dam in Colorado that continues to play a significant role in supporting local agriculture. As part of the Sacramento District, this private dam showcases the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality. With a focus on irrigation, Wee Ruby exemplifies the delicate balance between water supply, agricultural needs, and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Wee Ruby -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge | 267 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Bl Continental Reservoir | 9 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 80 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 550 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Blw Lake San Cristobal Nr Lake City | 100 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Howardsville | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wee Ruby.
Boat launches
- Cr 10 Hinsdale County
- Cr 11 Hinsdale County
- Rito Hondo Reservoir Boating Site
- Alberta Lake Fishing Site
- Devil's Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Road Canyon
- Road Canyon Campground
- River Hill
- River Hill Campground
- Crooked Creek Dispersed Area
- Thirty Mile Campground
Fishing spots
- Road Canyon Dam Fishing Site
- Road Canyon Reservoir Number 1
- Road Canyon Reservoir
- Love Lake Picnic Site
- Brown Lakes Swa
- Continental Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Below Rio Grande Reservoir (Sec 13, T40n, R4w) To Spring Creek (Sec 31, T41n, R2w)
- Snowslide Canyon Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Rincon La Vaca--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Middle Fork--Headwaters To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Rincon La Osa--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
More reservoirs
Track Wee Ruby 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 Wee Ruby
Where does the data for Wee Ruby 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 Wee Ruby.