Rubeck No. 1 dam
Rubeck No. 1
Rubeck No. 1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Elbert, Colorado, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the WEST BIJOU CREEK-TR. Built in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a hydraulic height of 25 feet. With a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet and a normal storage of 100 acre-feet, Rubeck No. 1 covers a surface area of 13 acres and serves a drainage area of 2 square miles.
Despite its age, Rubeck No. 1 is in fair condition and has a low hazard potential. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 109 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 2700 cubic feet per second. While the last inspection was conducted in April 2008, with a frequency of every 3 years, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. This moderate risk dam plays a crucial role in protecting the FONDIS community from potential flooding events.
With its strategic location and design, Rubeck No. 1 showcases the importance of effective dam infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Colorado. As a significant asset managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam not only provides vital protection to the surrounding area but also highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and resilience of water resources in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rubeck No. 1 serves as a noteworthy example of sustainable infrastructure supporting environmental conservation and community safety.
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 Rubeck No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Near Franktown | 3 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek At Woodmen Rd Nr Colo Springs | 2 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Abv Briargate Pkwy | 3 cfs | → |
| Monument C Ab N.Gate Blvd At Usaf Academy | 9 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Ck At Union Blvd | 3 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rubeck No. 1.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Ramah Reservoir
- Bingham Lake-Pinery Reservoir
- Pinery Reservoir
- Deadmans Creek
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
- Palmer Lake
Track Rubeck No. 1 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 Rubeck No. 1
Where does the data for Rubeck No. 1 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 Rubeck No. 1.