Mcphee - Great Cut Dike dam
Mcphee - Great Cut Dike
Located in Montezuma County, Colorado, the Mcphee - Great Cut Dike is a federally owned structure designed for fish and wildlife pond management. Completed in 1984 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth dam stands at a height of 64 feet and spans 2006 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 399,200 acre-feet, it primarily serves purposes such as hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, recreation, and water supply for the region.
Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Mcphee - Great Cut Dike is regulated and inspected by the same federal agency. With a high hazard potential, this structure is closely monitored for any potential risks and emergency preparedness. Despite its condition assessment not being available, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in December 2020, indicating ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam in case of emergencies. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam presents a fascinating intersection of engineering, environmental conservation, and recreational benefits 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 Mcphee - Great Cut Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dolores River At Dolores | 478 cfs | → |
| Lost Canyon Creek Near Dolores | 0 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Above Trail Canyon Near Cortez | 33 cfs | → |
| Mud Creek At State Highway 32 | 9 cfs | → |
| Mcelmo Creek Near Colorado-Utah State Line | 2 cfs | → |
| Dolores River Below Rico | 179 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcphee - Great Cut Dike.
Boat launches
- Colorado Street Montezuma County
- County Road S 16951, Dolores County
- Boat Ramp - Aggregate
- Mountain Sheep Point Rec Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Mcphee - Great Cut Dike 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 Mcphee - Great Cut Dike
Where does the data for Mcphee - Great Cut Dike 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 High 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 Mcphee - Great Cut Dike.