Hiwan #4 dam
Hiwan #4
Hiwan #4 is a private earth dam located in Kittridge, Colorado, on Troublesome Creek. Built in 1963 for recreational purposes, the dam stands at 35 feet high and has a storage capacity of 49 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality.
Despite its low hazard potential, Hiwan #4 poses a high risk due to its location and the potential impact of a breach on downstream areas. The dam lacks a spillway and associated structures, raising concerns about its ability to manage excess water flow during heavy rainfall or flooding events. The risk assessment of the dam highlights the need for effective risk management measures to mitigate potential disasters and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the condition and risk level of dams like Hiwan #4 is crucial for promoting sustainable water management practices and protecting vulnerable ecosystems. By staying informed about the regulatory oversight, inspection frequency, and emergency preparedness of dams in our area, we can work towards enhancing resilience to climate change impacts and safeguarding our precious water resources for future generations.
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 Hiwan #4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 109 cfs | → |
| Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co | 10 cfs | → |
| Fall River Near Idaho Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hiwan #4.
Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
Campgrounds
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Fire Lookout On Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain
- Indian Springs Campsites
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Echo Lake - Idaho Springs
- Bear Creek Lake Park
Fishing spots
- Fishing Is Fun #7
- Fishing Is Fun #8
- Fishing Is Fun #10
- Fishing Is Fun #11
- Fishing Is Fun #12
- Fishing Is Fun #6
Paddle runs
- Upper Clear Creek
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Hiwan #4 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 Hiwan #4
Where does the data for Hiwan #4 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 Hiwan #4.