Cripple Creek #2 dam
Cripple Creek #2
Cripple Creek #2 is a significant earth dam located in Teller County, Colorado, specifically in Canon City. Completed in 1971, this dam serves as a crucial water supply structure, providing storage of up to 280 acre-feet of water in the W Fork of W Beaver Creek. With a height of 51 feet and a spillway width of 180 feet, Cripple Creek #2 has a normal storage capacity of 136 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 17 acres.
Managed by a local government agency, Cripple Creek #2 is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a hazard potential classified as significant and a condition assessment rated as fair, this dam presents a moderate risk level. Despite its fair condition, the dam holds vital roles in supporting fish and wildlife habitats, recreation activities, and water supply needs in the region.
Located in a picturesque setting and maintained at a fair condition, Cripple Creek #2 stands as a crucial water resource structure in Colorado. With its historical significance and multiple purposes including water supply and recreation, this dam plays a key role in the environmental and socio-economic landscape of Teller County, serving as a lifeline for the local community and wildlife that depend on its resources.
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 Cripple Creek #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Creek At Cascade | 68 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek Below Cripple Creek Near Victor | 4 cfs | → |
| Waldo Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | · | → |
| Bear Creek Near Colorado Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Williams Canyon Abv Mouth Near Manitou Springs | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne Creek At Evans Ave At Colorado Springs | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cripple Creek #2.
Boat launches
- Skagway Road Teller County
- Forest Road 96.I Park County
- Thirtynine Mile Road Park County
- Ahra - Parkdale Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
Campgrounds
- The Crags
- Crags Campground
- Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp
- Mueller State Park
- Skagware Reservoir Dispersed Camping
- Wye
Fishing spots
- Mason Reservoir
- Mcreynolds Reservoir
- Skaguay Reservoir
- Rosemont Reservoir
- North Catamount Reservoir
- Crystal Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Cripple Creek #2 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 Cripple Creek #2
Where does the data for Cripple Creek #2 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 Significant 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 Cripple Creek #2.