Buck Pasture dam
Buck Pasture
Buck Pasture, located in Dolores, Colorado, is a privately owned dam primarily used for fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. Completed in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 600 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet, it serves as a crucial water resource for the area, supporting irrigation and providing a surface area of 8 acres.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR), Buck Pasture is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam is equipped with a slide gate for controlled water release in case of emergencies. The last inspection in October 2015 deemed the structure to be in good condition, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Situated along the Beaver Creek-TR stream, Buck Pasture plays a vital role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the region. Its strategic location in the Slick Rock city area, 63 miles from the Albuquerque District, highlights its importance for maintaining water supply, supporting agriculture, and mitigating potential risks associated with water scarcity and extreme weather events. As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Buck Pasture stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation in Colorado.
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 Buck Pasture -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dolores River Below Rico | 161 cfs | → |
| San Miguel River Near Placerville | 162 cfs | → |
| Dolores River At Dolores | 351 cfs | → |
| Lost Canyon Creek Near Dolores | 0 cfs | → |
| South Fork San Miguel River Near Ophir | 59 cfs | → |
| Animas River Above Tacoma | 611 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buck Pasture.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Groundhog Reservoir
- Miramonte Reservoir (Dan Noble Swa)
- Woods Lake
- Mcphee Reservoir
- Sheep Corrals Fishing Site
- Joe Moore Reservoir
Paddle runs
- West Dolores---Source To Confluence With Mainstem
- Beaver Creek
- Saltado Creek
- Dolores River - Mcphee To Bedrock Segment In Tres Rios Field Office
- Naturita Creek
More reservoirs
Track Buck Pasture 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 Buck Pasture
Where does the data for Buck Pasture 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 Buck Pasture.