Spring Creek dam
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is a state-regulated dam located in Gunnison, Colorado, with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 53 feet and has a hydraulic height of 56 feet. It holds a maximum storage capacity of 2,261 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 1,631 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 89 acres. The dam is associated with the Taylor River and its reservoir supports fish and wildlife, as well as recreational activities.
With a spillway type of uncontrolled, Spring Creek Dam has a spillway width of 268 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 24,000 cubic feet per second. The dam is inspected annually, with its last assessment in July 2020 rating its condition as fair. Despite its high hazard potential, the risk assessment for Spring Creek Dam is moderate, with no specific risk management measures listed. The dam is equipped with slide gates and uncontrolled outlets, and it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement guidelines.
Overall, Spring Creek Dam serves as a vital water resource for the Gunnison community, offering recreational opportunities while also supporting fish and wildlife habitats. Its location in a picturesque setting along the Taylor River makes it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Spring Creek will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supply in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Spring Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor River Below Taylor Park Reservoir | 148 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Taylor Park | 210 cfs | → |
| East River Bl Cement Creek Nr Crested Butte | 728 cfs | → |
| Taylor River At Almont | 276 cfs | → |
| East River At Almont Co. | 599 cfs | → |
| Lincoln Creek Bl Grizzly Reservoir | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Creek.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Road Gunnison County
- Boat Dock Road Gunnison County
- Slot #2 Day Use Area/Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- South Bank Day Use Area/ Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Red Rooster Boating Site
- Dexter Point Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Mosca
- Mosca Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Dinner Station
- Dinner Station Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Cement Creek Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Lottis Creek
Fishing spots
- Spring Creek Reservoir
- Taylor Park Reservoir
- South Fork Clear Creek
- Sayer's Gulch Trailhead
- Grizzly Reservoir
- Mirror Lake (Almont)
Track Spring Creek 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 Spring Creek
Where does the data for Spring Creek 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 Spring Creek.