Upper Cogdill dam
Upper Cogdill
Upper Cogdill, located in Moffat County, Colorado, is a private Earth dam completed in 1956 with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. This water resource, situated along Government Coral Creek, has a dam height of 30 feet and a capacity of 73 acre-feet. With a surface area of 7 acres and a normal storage level of 45 acre-feet, Upper Cogdill provides essential water for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond in addition to its primary purpose.
Maintained and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Upper Cogdill has a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in July 2015. The dam has a moderate risk level with a flood discharge capacity of 526 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway width of 25 feet. Despite its age, Upper Cogdill continues to play a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and water supply needs while maintaining a balance between human and environmental interests.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Upper Cogdill serves as a significant landmark in the region, showcasing the intersection of human engineering and natural resource conservation. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, this dam stands as a testament to responsible water management practices and the importance of maintaining infrastructure for the benefit of both wildlife and local communities. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding and preserving sites like Upper Cogdill become increasingly vital for sustainable water management and ecosystem resilience.
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 Upper Cogdill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Slater Fork Near Slater | 54 cfs | → |
| Little Snake River Near Slater | 309 cfs | → |
| Little Snake River Near Dixon | 376 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Below Young Draw | 3 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 68 cfs | → |
| Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr | 320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Cogdill.
Campgrounds
- Serviceberry Camping
- Battle Creek - Dispersed
- Sandstone Cabin
- Sawmill Creek Campground
- Freeman Reservoir Campground
- Freeman Reservoir
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Upper Cogdill 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 Upper Cogdill
Where does the data for Upper Cogdill 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 Upper Cogdill.