Waddle Creek dam
Waddle Creek
Waddle Creek is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Moffat, Colorado. Completed in 1946, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a length of 342 feet, providing a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of irrigation, Waddle Creek serves as a vital resource for water management in the region, holding a normal storage level of 39 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 7 acres.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Waddle Creek is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam poses a moderate risk level, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures. With a maximum discharge capacity of 269 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway type, Waddle Creek plays a crucial role in water resource management for the surrounding area.
Located in the city of Craig, Waddle Creek is a key component of the water infrastructure in Colorado, contributing to the efficient utilization of water resources for agricultural purposes. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, this dam continues to play a crucial role in sustaining the water needs of the local community and contributing to the overall sustainability of the region's water supply.
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 Waddle Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Below Craig | 2,490 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 2,280 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 55 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 81 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 506 cfs | → |
| White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford | 744 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waddle Creek.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- South Beach - Yampa River State Park
- Duffy Mountain Camping
- Duffy Mountain Axial Trailhead Camping
- Headquarters - Yampa River State Park
- Duffy Mountain Upper Vista Camping
- Ripple Creek Pass
Fishing spots
Track Waddle 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 Waddle Creek
Where does the data for Waddle 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 Waddle Creek.