East Branch dam
East Branch
East Branch is a private water supply dam located in Parshall, Colorado, along the Ute Creek. Built in 1971 by Wheeler and Associates, this earth dam stands at a height of 120 feet and has a hydraulic height of 130 feet. With a storage capacity of 2986 acre-feet and a surface area of 68 acres, East Branch serves as a crucial resource for the surrounding area, ensuring a reliable water supply for its residents.
The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to maintain its satisfactory condition. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam has been deemed to meet safety guidelines and has a moderate risk assessment rating. In case of emergencies, a thorough Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, with the last revision dating back to June 2016. With a spillway width of 6 feet and a maximum discharge of 550 cubic feet per second, East Branch is equipped to handle potential overflow events effectively.
Overall, East Branch is a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Grand County, Colorado, providing a reliable source of water for the local community. With its solid construction, regular inspections, and emergency preparedness measures, this dam plays a crucial role in ensuring water security and safety in the region. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the significance of East Branch as a key player in the sustainable management of water resources in the area.
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 East Branch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Fork Near Leal | 109 cfs | → |
| South Fork Of Williams Fork Near Leal | 48 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Above Darling Creek | 27 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Steelman Creek | 4 cfs | → |
| Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass | 20 cfs | → |
| St. Louis Creek Near Fraser | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Branch.
Boat launches
- Co 9 Summit County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- South Fork Campgound
- Sugar Loaf
- Morgan Gulch Rec Site Camping
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area Campground
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area
- Davis Springs
Fishing spots
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Hassell Lake
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Upper Cataract Lake
- Urad Reservoir - Upper
Paddle runs
- Upper Blue (Blue River Cg To Columbine Landing)
- Lower Blue (Green Mountain To Spring Creek)
- Silverthorne Town Run
More reservoirs
Track East Branch 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 East Branch
Where does the data for East Branch 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 East Branch.