Black Lake #1 dam
Black Lake #1
Black Lake #1, located in Eagle County, Colorado, is a public utility dam on Black Gore Creek, serving primarily for water supply. Built in 1939, this earth dam stands at 31 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a structural height of 73 feet, providing a storage capacity of 642 acre-feet. The dam has a surface area of 28 acres and a drainage area of 1 square mile, with a maximum discharge capacity of 3600 cubic feet per second.
Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, Black Lake #1 is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in July 2020. The dam has undergone modifications in 1993 to improve its foundation, hydraulic, mechanical, and structural components. With an emergency action plan in place and regular inspections conducted, the dam is managed to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities in the event of a potential failure. Overall, Black Lake #1 serves as a vital infrastructure for water management in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource practices in the face of climate challenges.
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 Black Lake #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Gore Creek Near Minturn | 20 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Bl North Tenmile C | 122 cfs | → |
| Gore Creek At Upper Station | 80 cfs | → |
| Eagle River At Red Cliff | 16 cfs | → |
| Booth Creek Near Minturn | 35 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Dillon | 118 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Lake #1.
Boat launches
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Eagle Valley Trail Avon
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
- Co 9 Summit County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Black Lakes (Vail)
- Officers Gulch Pond
- Curtain Ponds
- Kiln Creek
- Giberson Bay Day Use Fishing Site
- Dillon Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Black Lake #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 Black Lake #1
Where does the data for Black Lake #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 Black Lake #1.