Mcchivvis dam
Mcchivvis
Mcchivvis is a privately owned dam located in Routt County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Yampa. Built in 1951 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation along Watson Creek. With a height of 51 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 317 acre-feet, Mcchivvis covers a surface area of 25 acres and has a drainage area of 1 square mile.
Despite being inspected regularly and deemed to have a low hazard potential and fair condition, Mcchivvis poses a moderate risk due to its age and the surrounding environmental factors. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 29 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 706 cubic feet per second. The dam has not undergone any significant modifications in recent years and is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Department of Water Resources.
With its location in the picturesque Colorado landscape and its vital role in supporting local irrigation needs, Mcchivvis stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find Mcchivvis to be a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship.
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 Mcchivvis -- 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 | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 311 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcchivvis.
Boat launches
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Catamount Bridge Boat Ramp
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
- State Bridge River Access
Campgrounds
- Crosho Lake Recreation Area
- Bear River Developed Camp Sites
- Bear Lake Campground
- Chapman Reservoir Campground
- Chapman Reservoir
- Sheriffs Reservoir
Fishing spots
- Crosho Lake
- Yamcolo Reservoir
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Lake Of The Woods
- Trappers Lake
- Stagecoach Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Burns To Dotsero
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
- State Bridge To Two Bridges
- Lower Fish Creek
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Colorado River Segment 6
More reservoirs
Track Mcchivvis 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 Mcchivvis
Where does the data for Mcchivvis 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 Mcchivvis.