Ritschard dam
Ritschard
Ritschard, also known as Wolford Mountain Reservoir, is a key water resource located in Kremmling, Colorado, along Muddy Creek. Owned by the local government, this dam was designed by Boyle Engineering Corp and completed in 1995 for the primary purpose of irrigation. With a dam height of 122 feet and a storage capacity of 84,639 acre-feet, Ritschard plays a crucial role in water supply and management in the region.
The dam is state-regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring that it meets safety and operational standards. With a spillway width of 426 feet and a max discharge capacity of 44,432 cubic feet per second, Ritschard is equipped to handle high water flow events. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with regular inspections and emergency action plans in place to mitigate any risks.
Located in Grand County, Colorado, Ritschard reservoir covers a surface area of 1,550 acres and serves as a vital resource for the surrounding communities. As climate change continues to impact water availability and usage patterns, the management and maintenance of structures like Ritschard will be crucial in ensuring sustainable water management practices for the future.
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 Ritschard -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Crk Blw Wolford Mtn Reser. Nr Kremmling | 20 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Kremmling | 227 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 73 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Below Williams Fork Reservoir | 18 cfs | → |
| Williams Fork Near Parshall | 73 cfs | → |
| Blue River Below Green Mountain Reservoir | 63 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ritschard.
Boat launches
- Confluence Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Radium Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Co 9 Summit County
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
- State Bridge River Access
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Gore Pass
- Pumphouse
- Blacktail Creek Campground
- Blacktail Creek
- Red Dirt Reservoir Recreation Area
- Pumphouse Rec Site Campsite
Fishing spots
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Green Mountain Reservoir
- Lower Cataract Lake
- Kidney Lake
- Slack-Weiss Reservoir
Track Ritschard 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 Ritschard
Where does the data for Ritschard 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 Ritschard.