Cove Lake dam
Cove Lake
Cove Lake, located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, is a privately owned reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes since its completion in 1918. With a capacity of 90 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres, Cove Lake plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region. The dam, standing at 28 feet tall and 354 feet long, serves as a vital water resource along the Morapos Creek-TR watershed.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Cove Lake is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. The uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 18 feet, ensures proper water flow management during peak discharge events. The reservoir's risk assessment is categorized as moderate, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures to safeguard this essential water source for the community.
Cove Lake, situated 45 miles from Craig, Colorado, exemplifies the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability in the region. As a key component of the local irrigation infrastructure, this earth dam reservoir serves as a critical lifeline for farmers and ranchers, highlighting the intricate balance between water supply, regulatory oversight, and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climatic 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 Cove Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford | 803 cfs | → |
| White River Above Coal Creek | 518 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 613 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Craig | 2,810 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 2,700 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 87 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cove Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Lake Avery
- Craig City Ponds
- Craig Justice Center Ponds
- Lake Of The Woods
- Trappers Lake
- Meadow Lake Picnic Area
Track Cove 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 Cove Lake
Where does the data for Cove 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 Cove Lake.