Needle Creek dam
Needle Creek
Needle Creek, located in Saguache, Colorado, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 90 feet and has a storage capacity of 1,298 acre-feet. With a surface area of 42 acres and a maximum discharge rate of 966 cubic feet per second, Needle Creek plays a crucial role in providing water for fire protection, livestock, and small fish ponds in the area.
Although classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is assessed to be in fair condition as of July 2014. It is regularly inspected by state regulators and meets all permitting and enforcement requirements. The dam has no spillway and is equipped with slide gates for water release. With a drainage area of 10 square miles, Needle Creek serves as an important water resource for the community and contributes to the overall climate resilience of the region.
Overall, Needle Creek is a vital infrastructure for water management and agricultural practices in the Gunnison area. Its strategic location and design make it a key asset for irrigation and other water-related activities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Needle Creek will be essential to ensure the sustainable use of water for generations to come.
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 Needle Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tomichi Creek At Sargents | 49 cfs | → |
| Cochetopa Creek Below Rock Creek Nr Parlin | 13 cfs | → |
| Saguache Creek Near Saguache | 39 cfs | → |
| Tomichi Creek At Gunnison | 11 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Near Gunnison | 668 cfs | → |
| Ohio Creek Above Mouth Nr Gunnison | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Needle Creek.
Boat launches
- South Bank Day Use Area/ Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Slot #2 Day Use Area/Boat Access- Gunnison Rd
- Silver Thread Scenic Byway Gunnison County
- Ahra - Big Bend Rec Site
- Us 50 Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Needle Creek Reservoir
- Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area
- Cochetopa Site #4
- Cochetopa Site #1
- Cochetopa Site #3
- Cochetopa Site #2
Fishing spots
Track Needle Creek 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 Needle Creek
Where does the data for Needle Creek 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 Needle Creek.