Williams Creek Lake dam
Williams Creek Lake
Williams Creek Lake in Gunnison, Colorado, is a private reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1949, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet. The lake covers an area of 12 acres and is situated along the Muddy Creek-TR river. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam has a high risk assessment rating, indicating the need for careful monitoring and risk management measures.
Owned and regulated by the state, Williams Creek Lake is subject to routine inspections, with the last assessment conducted in October 2013. The dam features a slide gate and uncontrolled outlet gates, with a spillway width of 16 feet. While the dam's structural height reaches 27 feet, its hydraulic height stands at 20 feet. With a max discharge capacity of 553 cubic feet per second, the reservoir serves not only for irrigation but also for fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond, showcasing its versatility in water resource management.
Located in Somerset and managed by the Sacramento District, Williams Creek Lake offers a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. With its historical significance dating back over seven decades, this private reservoir continues to play a vital role in sustaining local agriculture and wildlife. As one of the many water infrastructure projects in Colorado, Williams Creek Lake serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and managing water resources for future generations in a changing climate landscape.
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 Williams Creek Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 101 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset | 550 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek At Highway 133 At Mouth Nr Bowie | 5 cfs | → |
| Minnesota Creek Near Paonia | 4 cfs | → |
| E Fork Terror Cr Blw Cottonwood Stomp Nr Bowie | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams Creek Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Williams Creek Dispersed Camping Area
- Paonia State Park
- Erickson Springs Campground- Paonia Rd
- Erickson Springs
- Bogan Flats Group Campground
- Bogan Flats
Fishing spots
- Paonia Reservoir
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Lake Irwin
- Meridian Lake
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Overland Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Deep Creek
- Bogan Canyon
- South Fork--Headwaters To Beaver Lake
- Crystal Mill Falls
- Waterfall To Confluence
- Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With South Fork
More reservoirs
Track Williams Creek Lake 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 Williams Creek Lake
Where does the data for Williams Creek Lake 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 Williams Creek Lake.