Ute Creek dam
Ute Creek
Ute Creek in Grand County, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1976 primarily for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 100 feet and with a hydraulic height of 108 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 429 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 95 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 1 square mile, Ute Creek Dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 739 cubic feet per second and covers a surface area of 12 acres.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, Ute Creek Dam is considered to be in fair condition as of its last assessment in June 2016. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 9 feet and has a risk assessment rating of moderate (3). The dam is subject to inspection every 6 years by the state regulatory agency, with enforcement and permitting also falling under state jurisdiction.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ute Creek Dam offers a fascinating case study in the management of water supply infrastructure in Colorado. Its design, construction, and ongoing regulatory oversight provide insights into the challenges and considerations involved in maintaining a crucial water management structure in a region prone to fluctuations in climate and water availability.
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 Ute Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Fork Near Leal | 109 cfs | → |
| South Fork Of Williams Fork Near Leal | 48 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Above Darling Creek | 27 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Steelman Creek | 4 cfs | → |
| Bobtail Creek Near Jones Pass | 20 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 66 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ute Creek.
Boat launches
- Co 9 Summit County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Us 34 Grand County
Campgrounds
- South Fork Campgound
- Sugar Loaf
- Morgan Gulch Rec Site Camping
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area Campground
- Mule Creek - Skylark Rec Area
- Davis Springs
Fishing spots
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Upper Cataract Lake
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Hassell Lake
- Urad Reservoir - Upper
Paddle runs
- Upper Blue (Blue River Cg To Columbine Landing)
- Lower Blue (Green Mountain To Spring Creek)
- Silverthorne Town Run
More reservoirs
Track Ute Creek 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 Ute Creek
Where does the data for Ute Creek 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 Ute Creek.