Hayden Raw Water Ponds dam
Hayden Raw Water Ponds
Hayden Raw Water Ponds, located in Routt County, Colorado, serves as a vital water supply source for the city of Hayden. Completed in 1965, this earth dam structure stands at 36 feet high and spans a length of 4900 feet, with a storage capacity of 1013 acre-feet. The ponds are situated along the Yampa River, providing a crucial resource for the community while also offering recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat in the area.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Hayden Raw Water Ponds have a low hazard potential and are rated as being in satisfactory condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has a maximum discharge capacity of 4 cubic feet per second. Despite being regularly inspected and meeting state regulatory standards, the risk assessment for this structure is considered moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
With its strategic location near the Yampa River and its significance in providing water supply to the community, Hayden Raw Water Ponds play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. As a publicly owned utility structure, the ponds serve as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for continued investment in infrastructure to safeguard water resources for future generations.
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 Hayden Raw Water Ponds -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 161 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 2,340 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 113 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 769 cfs | → |
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 154 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hayden Raw Water Ponds.
Boat launches
- Us 40 Routt County
- Pebble Beach Boat Ramp
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Moffat County
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
- Teal Lake Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Headquarters - Yampa River State Park
- Trout Creek
- Trout Creek Recreation Area
- South Beach - Yampa River State Park
- Sawmill Creek Campground
- Chapman Reservoir
Fishing spots
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Fetcher Park
- Casey`S Pond
- Craig City Ponds
- Craig Justice Center Ponds
- Stagecoach Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Lower Fish Creek
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Yampa River Segment 1
- Yampa River Segment 2
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
Track Hayden Raw Water Ponds 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 Hayden Raw Water Ponds
Where does the data for Hayden Raw Water Ponds 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 Hayden Raw Water Ponds.