Sheer Bliss dam
Sheer Bliss
Sheer Bliss is a private water supply dam located in Snowmass Village, Colorado. Constructed in 2007 by RESOURCE ENGINEERING, INC, the dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 21 feet. The primary purpose of Sheer Bliss is to provide water supply, boasting a storage capacity of 13 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 11 acre-feet.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2019, Sheer Bliss is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 6 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 70 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk level, Sheer Bliss remains a vital component of the local water infrastructure in Pitkin County, Colorado.
As a key player in the water supply network, Sheer Bliss serves as a critical resource for the residents of Snowmass Village and the surrounding area. Its strategic location and design make it an integral part of the region's water management system, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring this essential structure for the community's water security and climate resilience.
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 Sheer Bliss -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Roaring Fork River Near Aspen | 130 cfs | → |
| Hunter Creek Near Aspen | 8 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen | 51 cfs | → |
| Fryingpan River Near Ruedi | 117 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Emma | 372 cfs | → |
| Crystal River Ab Avalanche C | 712 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheer Bliss.
Boat launches
- Wingo Boat Ramp
- Bear Road Gunnison County
- Boat Ramp Road Gunnison County
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Grizzly Creek Garfield County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Fryingpan River
- Christine Lake
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Ruedi Reservoir
- Lost Man Reservoir
Track Sheer Bliss 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 Sheer Bliss
Where does the data for Sheer Bliss 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 Significant 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 Sheer Bliss.