Stratton dam
Stratton
Stratton, also known as Mt Baldy Reservoir, is a gravity dam located in Teller County, Colorado, owned by the local government. Completed in 1919, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the North Cheyenne Creek. With a structural height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 190 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam has a high hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of July 2020, with inspections conducted every three years to ensure its safety and integrity. Despite its age, the dam continues to effectively reduce flood risks in the region and protect surrounding communities from potential disasters. With its historical significance and ongoing importance in water resource management, Stratton remains a key structure in the state-regulated system, showcasing the engineering expertise of H.I. Reid in its design.
Overall, the Stratton dam stands as a testament to Colorado's commitment to water resource management and climate resilience. As a vital infrastructure for flood risk reduction, this gravity dam continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding the local environment and communities. Its strategic location along the North Cheyenne Creek underscores its significance in maintaining water security and mitigating potential hazards 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 Stratton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Near Colorado Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne Creek At Evans Ave At Colorado Springs | 2 cfs | → |
| Fountain Creek Near Colorado Springs | 12 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Williams Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stratton.
Boat launches
- Skagway Road Teller County
- Forest Road 96.I Park County
- Thirtynine Mile Road Park County
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Wye
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- The Crags
- Crags Campground
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
Fishing spots
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Mason Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
- Quail Lake
Paddle runs
Track Stratton 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 Stratton
Where does the data for Stratton 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 Stratton.