Dale dam
Dale
Dale, located in Parshall, Colorado, is a privately-owned irrigation dam on the South Battle Creek. Built in 1926, this earth dam stands at a height of 23 feet and has a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 48 acre-feet, Dale serves multiple purposes including irrigation, fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. The dam covers a surface area of 6 acres and has a maximum discharge rate of 530 cubic feet per second.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2018 and significant hazard potential, Dale continues to be regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway system with a width of 10 feet and is equipped with a single slide gate for outlet control. Its hydraulic height of 22 feet and structural height of 29 feet ensure efficient water management within the surrounding drainage area of 1 square mile. Local congressman Joe Neguse oversees the district where Dale is situated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the dam's integrity for water resource management in Grand County.
As a key component of water infrastructure in the region, Dale faces a moderate risk level, prompting regular inspections every two years to ensure public safety. With its historical significance and ongoing operational importance, Dale represents a vital link in the network of dams and reservoirs supporting agricultural activities and environmental sustainability in Colorado. As climate change impacts water resources, the maintenance and management of structures like Dale will become increasingly crucial for adapting to evolving hydrological conditions and ensuring water security for future generations.
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 Dale -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 66 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir | 18 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Leal | 109 cfs | → |
| Blue River Below Green Mountain Reservoir | 63 cfs | → |
| South Fork Of Williams Fork Near Leal | 48 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Above Darling Creek | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dale.
Boat launches
- Co 9 Summit County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
Campgrounds
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area Campground
- Morgan Gulch Rec Site Camping
- Mcdonald Flats Campground
- Mcdonald Flats
- Prairie Point Campground
Fishing spots
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Upper Cataract Lake
- Willow Creek Fishing Site
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Lower Blue (Green Mountain To Spring Creek)
- Upper Blue (Blue River Cg To Columbine Landing)
- Gore Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Dale 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 Dale
Where does the data for Dale 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 Significant 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 Dale.