Blue Mesa Dam
Picture of Blue Mesa Dam, Colorado

Blue Mesa Generators

Statistics

General

  • Vicinity Map
  • Region (Map) ................ Upper Colorado
  • State (Map) .................... Colorado
  • County ............................ Gunnision
  • Project ............................. Colorado River Storage
  • Dam type ......................... Earthfill
  • Location ...........................1.5 mi below Sapinero
  • Watercourse ....................Gunnision
  • Reservoir ..........................Blue Mesa
  • Construction Date ..........1962-1966
  • National ID Number ....... CO01675
  • Hydrologic Unit Code .....

Dimensions

Hydraulics

  • Normal Water Surface Elev: ......................  NA
  • Hydraulic Height: .................................... 33.4 ft
  • Service Spillway Type:
  •    Uncontrolled  Crest    .................................No
  •    Morning-Glory ........................................... No
  •    Crest Length    ........................................  NA
  •    Gated      ..................................................... Yes
  •    Capacity at Elev:  7519.4  ft,           34,000 cfs
  • Auxiliary Spillway ........................................ No
  •     Capacity at Elev.   ................................ 0  cfs
  • Outlet Works Capacity at
  •     Elevation  7519.4 ft.,  ..................... 5,000 cfs

Hydrology

  • Current Reservoir Storage
  • Drainage Area: .................................3434.0 sq mi
  • Hydrometeorological Report                 HMR 49
  • Flood Type: .................................... June General
  • Storm Duration: .......................................... 72 hrs
  • Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) Report:
  •   Peak Inflow: ..................................... 230,000 cfs
  •   Inflow Volume: ........................1,314,000 acre-ft
  •   Flow Duration: ...................................... 30 days
  •   PMF Routing MWS Elev.: ....................     N/A
  •   Initial Routing Elev: .............................7499.8 ft
  •   Study Date: .............................. December 1994

Power Generation

Narration

 

Geology

 The area has undergone a rather complex geologic development. The stmtigraphic column consists of basement, pre-Cambrian granite, gneiss, and schist, overlain uncomfortably by the Jurassic, Entrada sandstone, and shale, In turn progressively overlain by the Morrison Mancos clay shales. Structurally, the sedimentary strata, underlying the volcanics and overlaying the granites, dip to the north, with the horizontal overlaying volcanics covering their erosional truncated edges. The contact between the granite and sedimentary rocks becomes progressively lower in elevation to the north of the river. On the south side of the river, it rises to the ground surface. A large normal fault parallels the canyon on the southwest side, cutting close to the river at Cimarron, below Blue Mesa Dam.

Links

 | Recreation |

 | Dams Located by State | USBR Colorado Dams | Upper Colorado Region Dams |

 | Owner:  Bureau of Reclamation, Power Office,
                   125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1102, (801) 524-3612

 | Operator:  Bureau of Reclamation, Power Office,
                       125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1102, (801) 524-3612
 

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