Willow Springs #1 dam
Willow Springs #1
Willow Springs #1 is a privately owned dam in Jefferson County, Colorado, that plays a crucial role in water supply and irrigation for the area. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. The dam serves the Turkey Creek-OS river/stream and has a spillway width of 77 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 124 cubic feet per second.
Despite its importance, Willow Springs #1 has a high hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, as of the last inspection conducted in June 2020. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are unclear, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential emergencies. This information underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this vital water resource infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Willow Springs #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 4 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 16 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 23 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Springs #1.
Boat launches
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Idylease Campground
- Indian Creek
Fishing spots
- Soda Lakes
- Hine Lake
- Blue Heron Lake
- Harriman Lake
- Johnson Reservoir
- Cottonwood Park Lake (Kipling & Jewell)
Track Willow Springs #1 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 Willow Springs #1
Where does the data for Willow Springs #1 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 Willow Springs #1.