Cabin Creek Lower dam
Cabin Creek Lower
Located in Georgetown, Colorado, Cabin Creek Lower is a hydroelectric dam with a primary purpose of generating power. Constructed in 1967 by Stone and Webster, this earth dam stands at a height of 95 feet and spans a length of 1195 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 1990 acre-feet. The dam sits on South Clear Creek, in Clear Creek County, and is regulated by the State of Colorado and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
With a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Cabin Creek Lower is subject to regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 188 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 12000 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality for years to come.
As a vital component of Colorado's water resource infrastructure, Cabin Creek Lower plays a crucial role in harnessing hydroelectric power and managing water resources in the region. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, this dam is essential for supporting the energy needs of the local community and contributing to the sustainability of water resources in the area. Enthusiasts of water resource management and climate resilience will find Cabin Creek Lower to be a fascinating example of how human ingenuity can be harnessed to meet the challenges of a changing climate.
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 Cabin Creek Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S Clear Cr Abv Lwr Cabin Cr Res Spilwy Nr Georgtwn | 2 cfs | → |
| South Clear Creek Abv Lower Cabin Creek Reservoir | 5 cfs | → |
| Leavenworth Creek @ Mouth Nr Georgetown | 4 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Abv West Fork Clear Creek Nr Empire Co | 41 cfs | → |
| West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire | 37 cfs | → |
| Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cabin Creek Lower .
⚓ Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Tarryall Road Park County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Clear Lake
- West Chicago Creek Campground
- West Chicago Creek
- Guanella Pass
- Guanella Pass Campground
- Georgetown Lake
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Lower Snake
- Upper Clear Creek
- Silverthorne Town Run
- Breckenridge Whitewater Park (Town Run)
- Lower Ten Mile
- Upper Blue (Blue River Cg To Columbine Landing)
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Cabin Creek Lower 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 Cabin Creek Lower
Where does the data for Cabin Creek Lower 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 Cabin Creek Lower .