Binco dam
Binco
Binco is a privately owned dam located in Kremmling, Colorado, on Albert Creek. Completed in 1913, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 480 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, Binco has a spillway width of 12 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 530 cubic feet per second.
The dam stands at 45 feet in height and has a length of 600 feet, covering a surface area of 37 acres and draining a 3-square-mile watershed. Despite being regulated, permitted, and inspected by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Binco's last inspection in September 2020 raised concerns about its structural integrity, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Binco's historical significance and current condition compelling, as it exemplifies the ongoing challenges faced by aging infrastructure in maintaining water security and safety in the face of changing environmental conditions. With its location in the scenic Grand County, Binco serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and risk management in ensuring the resilience of our water systems for future generations.
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 Binco -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 73 cfs | → |
| Muddy Crk Blw Wolford Mtn Reser. Nr Kremmling | 20 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 372 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Kremmling | 227 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Binco.
Boat launches
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Red Dirt Reservoir Recreation Area
- Rabbit Ears Pass Camp
- Dumont Lake Campground
- Dumont Lake
- Walton Creek
- Meadows
Fishing spots
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Kidney Lake
- Slack-Weiss Reservoir
- Seymour Lake
- Stagecoach Reservoir
- Fish Creek Reservoir
Track Binco 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 Binco
Where does the data for Binco 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 Significant 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 Binco.