Big Meadows - North Dike dam
Big Meadows - North Dike
Big Meadows - North Dike, also known as Big Meadows - Supplemental Dam, is a state-owned structure located in South Fork, Colorado. Completed in 1968, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation, including fish and wildlife pond activities. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 300 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 3,356 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 115 acres. Situated on the South Fork Rio Grande, the dam is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 56 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 3,333 cubic feet per second. While it has a high hazard potential, the condition assessment conducted in August 2020 deemed it satisfactory. The dam is equipped with emergency action plans and is subject to moderate risk assessment, indicating a moderate level of risk associated with its operation. Overall, Big Meadows - North Dike plays a crucial role in water resource management and recreational activities in the Mineral County region of Colorado.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the significance of Big Meadows - North Dike in balancing the needs of recreation and wildlife preservation. As a key structure on the South Fork Rio Grande, the dam not only provides a habitat for fish and wildlife but also offers a recreational space for locals and visitors alike. With its regulated state ownership and regular inspections, the dam ensures the safety of surrounding communities while maintaining a sustainable water supply for various purposes. Its strategic location and design make it a vital component of the water infrastructure in the region, highlighting the importance of responsible dam management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Big Meadows - North Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Rio Grande At South Fork | 519 cfs | → |
| East Fork San Juan River Nr Pagosa Springs | -888 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork Bel Cropsy Creek At Summitville | 15 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 105 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 1,220 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork At Mouth Near Jasper | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Meadows - North Dike.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Big Meadows
- Big Meadows Campground And Picnic Area
- Tucker Ponds Campground
- Tucker Ponds
- Park Creek Camp #1
- Park Creek - South Fork
Fishing spots
- Big Meadows Reservoir
- Shaw Lake
- Pass Creek Lake Fishing Site
- Tucker Ponds Fishing Site
- Alberta Park Reservoir
- Beaver Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Headwaters (Sec 21, T38n, R1e) To 1/4 Mile Above Big Meadows Reservoir
- Below Big Meadows Reservoir Dam To Sec 9 And 10, T39n, R3e
- Sec 30, T41n, R2e To Sec 11, T40n, R2e
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Middle Fork--Headwaters To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
- Sec 10, T42n, R1e To Sec 13, T41n, R1e
Track Big Meadows - North 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 Big Meadows - North Dike
Where does the data for Big Meadows - North 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 Big Meadows - North Dike.