Sterner dam
Sterner
Located in Routt County, Colorado, Sterner is a privately owned earth dam built in 1953 primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 25 feet and a length of 306 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 380 acre-feet and serves the Egeria Creek-TR. Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential and fair condition, Sterner is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Colorado Department of Water Resources.
Although Sterner does not have any associated structures or federal funding, it is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 38 feet. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 744 cubic feet per second, and it covers a surface area of 28 acres. With a drainage area of 1 square mile, Sterner's normal storage capacity is 195 acre-feet, making it a vital resource for irrigation, fire protection, stock, and small fish ponds in the region.
Considering the moderate risk assessment rating assigned to Sterner, it is crucial for stakeholders to monitor and maintain the dam's condition to ensure its long-term stability and functionality. The last inspection conducted in October 2018 highlighted the dam's fair condition, and it is recommended that emergency action plans and risk management measures be put in place to address any potential hazards or vulnerabilities associated with the structure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the protection and sustainable management of dams like Sterner are essential for ensuring water security 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 Sterner -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 8 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Piney River Near State Bridge | 115 cfs | → |
| Eagle River Below Gypsum | 526 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Kremmling | 225 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Dotsero | 1,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sterner.
Boat launches
- Catamount Bridge Boat Ramp
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
- State Bridge River Access
Campgrounds
- Bear River Developed Camp Sites
- Cell Tower
- Bear Lake Campground
- Horseshoe Campground
- Derby Loop Camp
- Stifel Creek Camp
Fishing spots
- Yamcolo Reservoir
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Crosho Lake
- Trappers Lake
- Lake Of The Woods
- Stagecoach Reservoir
Track Sterner 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 Sterner
Where does the data for Sterner 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 Sterner.