Ehmann dam
Ehmann
Ehmann, Frank Det. #2, located in Byers, Colorado, is a private dam designed by the US Soil Conservation Service and completed in 1969 for flood risk reduction on Middle Bijou Creek. The dam is 23 feet high with a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 28 feet. With a storage capacity of 186 acre-feet, it serves purposes such as fire protection, stock watering, and flood risk mitigation. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, making it an important structure for water resource management in the area.
Owned privately, Ehmann, Frank Det. #2 is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources and meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. The dam has a spillway width of 143 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type. Although the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam has undergone inspections in the past, with the last inspection conducted in July 1991. With its strategic location and design features, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ehmann, Frank Det. #2 stands as a key infrastructure for water management in Elbert County, Colorado. With its earth dam type and stone core construction, the dam covers a surface area of 16 acres and has a drainage area of 2 square miles. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 2538 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective flood control measures for the region. As a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure, Ehmann, Frank Det. #2 exemplifies the importance of sustainable water management practices in mitigating climate-related risks.
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 Ehmann -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Near Franktown | 5 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek Below Cherry Creek Lake | 46 cfs | → |
| East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock | 12 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek Blw C-470 At Highlands Ranch | 4 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ehmann.
Track Ehmann 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 Ehmann
Where does the data for Ehmann 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 Low 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 Ehmann.