Fish Creek #2 dam
Fish Creek #2
Fish Creek #2 is a privately owned Earth dam located in Gunnison, Colorado, specifically in the city of Cimarron. Built in 1906, this dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 1200 feet, providing a storage capacity of 343 acre-feet for recreational purposes along the Fish Creek river. Despite its historical significance, the dam is currently assessed as unsatisfactory with a significant hazard potential, indicating a need for maintenance and risk management measures.
The dam does not have a spillway, and its outlet gates consist of a slide (sluice gate) and uncontrolled mechanisms. With a drainage area of only 1 square mile, the Fish Creek #2 dam can discharge up to 2300 cubic feet per second in case of emergencies. The last inspection in October 2020 revealed its unsatisfactory condition, prompting the need for regular monitoring and potential improvements to ensure public safety and environmental protection in the event of a high-risk scenario.
Given the high risk assessment and significant hazard potential, stakeholders involved in the management of Fish Creek #2 should prioritize the implementation of effective risk management measures and regular inspections to mitigate any potential dangers associated with the dam. As a key recreational structure in the area, ensuring the safety and integrity of the dam is crucial for both water resource enthusiasts and climate advocates who value sustainable water management practices in Colorado.
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 Fish Creek #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir | 96 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 184 cfs | → |
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 2 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Colona | 83 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Bl Squaw Creek | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fish Creek #2.
Boat launches
- Ouray County
- Devil's Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Us 50 Sapinero
- Dillon Pinnacles Trail Gunnison County
- Ponderosa Campground Gunnison County
- Us 50 Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Big Cimarron
- Big Cimarron Campground - Ouray Rd
- Beaver Lake
- Beaver Lake Campground - Ouray Rd
- Silver Jack Campground - Ouray Rd
- Silver Jack
Fishing spots
- Beaver Lake Day Use Area/ Fishing Site
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Morrow Point Reservoir
- Gunnison Gorge
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Blue Mesa Reservoir
Track Fish Creek #2 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 Fish Creek #2
Where does the data for Fish Creek #2 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 Significant 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 Fish Creek #2.