Mill Creek No 2 dam
Mill Creek No 2
Mill Creek No 2, located in Hinsdale, Colorado, is a Federal-owned earth dam completed in 1955 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 18 feet with a hydraulic height of 14 feet, this dam on Mill Creek has a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 280 cubic feet per second. The dam, managed by the USDA Forest Service, is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Department of Water Resources to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards.
Despite being classified as having "Significant" hazard potential, Mill Creek No 2 is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and its risk assessment is moderate. With the last inspection date dating back to September 2010, there is a need for updated emergency preparedness measures and maintenance to mitigate potential risks associated with this dam. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize the monitoring and maintenance of dams like Mill Creek No 2 to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
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 Mill Creek No 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork Blw Lake San Cristobal Nr Lake City | 144 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Bl Continental Reservoir | 17 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge | 510 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork At Gateview | 298 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Howardsville | 272 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Creek No 2.
Boat launches
- Rito Hondo Reservoir Boating Site
- Cr 11 Hinsdale County
- Devil's Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Cr 10 Hinsdale County
Campgrounds
- Slumgullion
- Deer Lakes Campground - Gunnison Rd
- Deer Lakes
- Wupperman
- Hidden Valley
- Hidden Valley Tent Campground- Gunnison Rd
Fishing spots
- Lake San Cristobal
- Rito Hondo Reservoir
- Continental Reservoir Fishing Site
- Continental Reservoir
- Brown Lakes Swa
- Road Canyon Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Below Rio Grande Reservoir (Sec 13, T40n, R4w) To Spring Creek (Sec 31, T41n, R2w)
- Rincon La Vaca--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Snowslide Canyon Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Sec 10, T42n, R1e To Sec 13, T41n, R1e
- Rincon La Osa--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary To High Water Line Of Blue Mesa Reservoir
Track Mill Creek No 2 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 Mill Creek No 2
Where does the data for Mill Creek No 2 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 Mill Creek No 2.