Muddy Pass Lake dam
Muddy Pass Lake
Muddy Pass Lake in Jackson County, Colorado, is a picturesque reservoir nestled along Muddy Creek and managed by the USDA Forest Service for recreational purposes. Completed in 1969, this Earth dam stands at 17 feet high, with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 22 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 58 acre-feet and a surface area of 11 acres, making it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Muddy Pass Lake's dam is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, with inspection, permitting, and enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The reservoir's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 400 cubic feet per second. The last inspection in September 2010 rated its condition as "Not Rated," prompting a moderate risk assessment (level 3) without specific risk management measures identified. As a water resource and climate enthusiast, exploring Muddy Pass Lake provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the intersection of infrastructure, natural beauty, and regulatory oversight in managing water resources for recreational enjoyment.
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 Muddy Pass Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 372 cfs | → |
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 292 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 73 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Muddy Pass Lake.
Boat launches
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lower Fish Creek
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Colorado River Segment 4
- Gore Canyon
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
More reservoirs
Track Muddy Pass Lake 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 Muddy Pass Lake
Where does the data for Muddy Pass Lake 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 Muddy Pass Lake.