Ziff Dam dam
Ziff Dam
Located in Pitkin County, Colorado, Ziff Dam is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Built in 1992 by SCHMUESER, GORDON, MEYER INC, this structure stands at a height of 29 feet and spans a length of 220 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 23 acre-feet. The dam is situated along Woody Creek-OS, serving as a recreational area and a vital source of water for wildlife.
With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Ziff Dam has been inspected regularly by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring its structural integrity and safety. Equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and a slide outlet gate, the dam provides essential water resources while minimizing the risk of flooding. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region, supporting both local ecosystems and recreational activities.
As a key feature in the Snowmass community, Ziff Dam not only serves as a vital water source but also contributes to the overall environmental and recreational landscape of the area. With its sustainable design and regulatory oversight, the dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience, embodying the harmonious balance between human needs and natural ecosystems.
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 Ziff Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter Creek Near Aspen | 8 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Aspen | 130 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen | 51 cfs | → |
| Fryingpan River Near Ruedi | 117 cfs | → |
| Fryingpan River At Meredith | 201 cfs | → |
| Fryingpan River Near Thomasville | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ziff Dam.
Boat launches
- Wingo Boat Ramp
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
- Boat Ramp Road Gunnison County
Campgrounds
- Silver Bar
- Silver Bar Campground
- Silver Bell
- Silver Bell Campground
- Difficult
- Difficult Campground And Group Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Castle Creek
- North Fork--Headwaters To Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary
- Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With South Fork
- Crystal Mill Falls
- The Upper
- Catherine Store Section
More reservoirs
Track Ziff Dam 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 Ziff Dam
Where does the data for Ziff Dam 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 Ziff Dam.