Sheriff dam
Sheriff
Sheriff Dam, located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for irrigation and water supply purposes. Completed in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 47 feet and has a storage capacity of 1450 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Trout Creek, serves an important role in the region's agriculture and water management efforts.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Sheriff Dam is regularly inspected, regulated, and enforced by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. It has a spillway width of 32 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 2460 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam's emergency action plan is currently being updated to ensure it meets the latest guidelines for risk management and preparedness.
Sheriff Dam, with its controlled by uncontrolled spillway type, plays a crucial role in water management in the region. As a key infrastructure for irrigation and water supply, it requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure its safety and functionality for the surrounding community. This dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change and increasing water demands.
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 Sheriff -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 7 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 392 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 2,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheriff.
Boat launches
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Catamount Bridge Boat Ramp
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
- Us 40 Routt County
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- Cottonwood Island Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Sheriff Reservoir Campground
- Sheriffs Reservoir
- Chapman Reservoir
- Chapman Reservoir Campground
- Crosho Lake Recreation Area
- Trout Creek Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Crosho Lake
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Yamcolo Reservoir
- Lake Of The Woods
- Trappers Lake
- Stagecoach Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Burns To Dotsero
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
- Headwaters At Deep Lake Outlet To 1/4 Mile Downstream
- Lower Fish Creek
- Headwaters To Flat Tops Wilderness Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Sheriff 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 Sheriff
Where does the data for Sheriff 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 High 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 Sheriff.