Griggs dam
Griggs
Griggs Dam, located in Kremmling, Colorado, on Dry Creek, is a privately owned structure primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1948, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 131 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Griggs Dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring that it is inspected, permitted, and enforced according to state regulations.
Despite its age, Griggs Dam has not been rated for its current condition since its last inspection in 2006. The dam's spillway, measuring 2 feet in width, is uncontrolled, allowing for a maximum discharge of 47 cubic feet per second. The dam also supports recreational activities in addition to its primary function for irrigation, with a surface area of 4 acres and a drainage area of 10 square miles. Griggs Dam serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in Grand County, Colorado, contributing to the local agricultural economy and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation.
With its location in a scenic area and its essential role in water management, Griggs Dam presents an interesting case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As a privately owned structure, it is important to monitor and maintain the dam to ensure its continued safety and functionality for both irrigation and recreational purposes. The dam's presence on Dry Creek, in conjunction with its moderate risk assessment, highlights the delicate balance between water management, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental conservation in the region.
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 Griggs -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Near Kremmling | 299 cfs | → |
| Muddy Crk Blw Wolford Mtn Reser. Nr Kremmling | 55 cfs | → |
| Blue River Below Green Mountain Reservoir | 63 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir | 18 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 62 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Griggs.
Boat launches
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Co 9 Summit County
- State Bridge River Access
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Pumphouse
- Pumphouse Rec Site Campsite
- Pumphouse Rec. Site Campground
- Pumphouse Rec Group Campsite A
- Pumphouse Rec Group Campsite B
- Ueberfluss Campsite
Fishing spots
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Upper Cataract Lake
- Willow Creek Fishing Site
Track Griggs 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 Griggs
Where does the data for Griggs 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 Griggs.