Humphreys dam
Humphreys
Humphreys is a private dam located in Mineral County, Colorado, specifically in the city of 4UR Ranch. Built in 1923, this concrete dam stands at a height of 85 feet and has a length of 186 feet, with a storage capacity of 842 acre-feet and a drainage area of 53 square miles. The dam is situated on Goose Creek and is under the regulatory authority of the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR) as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
With a hazard potential classified as high, Humphreys poses a risk that has been assessed as moderate. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one being conducted in September 2020. Despite its age, Humphreys remains a crucial structure for water resource management in the area, providing storage and flood control services to the surrounding community. As a significant feature in the local landscape, the dam plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in Mineral County, Humphreys plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With its storage capacity, flood control measures, and regulatory oversight, the dam serves as a valuable asset for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of structures like Humphreys is essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices and building resilience 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 Humphreys -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 131 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 1,060 cfs | → |
| South Fork Rio Grande At South Fork | 562 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Near Del Norte | 1,770 cfs | → |
| East Fork San Juan River Nr Pagosa Springs | -888 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge | 719 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Humphreys.
Boat launches
- Alberta Lake Fishing Site
- Cr 10 Hinsdale County
- Rito Hondo Reservoir Boating Site
- Cr 11 Hinsdale County
- Platoro Reservoir Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Palisade - South Fork
- Palisade Campground
- Wheeler Baisin Site 3
- Wheeler Basin Site 2
- Ivy Creek Campground
- Ivy Creek
Fishing spots
- Shaw Lake
- Love Lake Picnic Site
- Big Meadows Reservoir
- Million Reservoir Fishing Site
- Pass Creek Lake Fishing Site
- Beaver Creek Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Sec 30, T41n, R2e To Sec 11, T40n, R2e
- Sec 10, T42n, R1e To Sec 13, T41n, R1e
- Headwaters (Sec 21, T38n, R1e) To 1/4 Mile Above Big Meadows Reservoir
- Below Big Meadows Reservoir Dam To Sec 9 And 10, T39n, R3e
- Below Rio Grande Reservoir (Sec 13, T40n, R4w) To Spring Creek (Sec 31, T41n, R2w)
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
Track Humphreys 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 Humphreys
Where does the data for Humphreys 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 Humphreys.