Thomas dam
Thomas
Thomas is a privately owned dam located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, along the San Juan River. Built in 1966 for irrigation purposes, this structure stands at a height of 17 feet and spans 1700 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 93 acre-feet, Thomas serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, storing and distributing water for agricultural use.
Despite its low hazard potential and not being rated for condition assessment, Thomas poses a high risk due to its age and lack of recent inspections. The dam lacks a spillway, which could potentially lead to flooding in the event of overflow. While the last inspection took place in 1988, the structure has not been assessed for condition since then, raising concerns about its long-term stability and safety.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts should monitor the situation at Thomas closely, advocating for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the dam's safety and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. As a critical piece of infrastructure for irrigation in the area, Thomas plays a vital role in water management and conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of responsible stewardship and proactive risk management strategies in the face of climate uncertainties.
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 Thomas -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan River At Pagosa Springs | 491 cfs | → |
| East Fork San Juan River Nr Pagosa Springs | -888 cfs | → |
| Rio Blanco Bl Blanco Div Dam | 38 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 163 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork Bel Cropsy Creek At Summitville | 9 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Below Platoro Reservoir | 316 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thomas.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Alberta Park Reservoir
- Tucker Ponds Fishing Site
- Pass Creek Lake Fishing Site
- Big Meadows Reservoir
- Shaw Lake
Paddle runs
- Ef/Middle Fork At Weminuche Wilderness Boundary To Forest Development Road 631
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Middle Fork--Headwaters To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters (Sec 21, T38n, R1e) To 1/4 Mile Above Big Meadows Reservoir
- North Fork--Sec 8, T35n, R2e To Confluence With Middle Fork
- Middle Fork--Sec 13, T35n, R2e To Confluence Of Three Forks--Sec 14, T35n, R3e
More reservoirs
Track Thomas 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 Thomas
Where does the data for Thomas 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 Thomas.