Bills Ranch Lake dam
Bills Ranch Lake
Located in Frisco, Colorado, Bills Ranch Lake is a privately owned water resource that serves as a recreational hotspot for fishing and wildlife enthusiasts. Built in 1933, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 8 feet with a length of 300 feet, offering a serene surface area of 2 acres for visitors to enjoy. With a maximum storage capacity of 11 acre-feet, the lake provides a crucial habitat for fish and wildlife in the area.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Bills Ranch Lake is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is currently rated as being in fair condition, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. With a controlled spillway width of 21 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 28 cubic feet per second, the lake is equipped to handle potential overflow events and maintain its operational functionality.
With its picturesque setting and importance as a recreation hub in Summit County, Bills Ranch Lake stands as a testament to the delicate balance between water resource management and environmental conservation. As climate change continues to impact water resources across the globe, preserving and safeguarding such reservoirs becomes increasingly vital for sustaining ecosystems and providing recreational opportunities 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 Bills Ranch Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tenmile Creek Bl North Tenmile C | 102 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near Dillon | 72 cfs | → |
| Blue River Below Dillon | 54 cfs | → |
| Straight Cr Blw Laskey Gulch Nr Dillon | 17 cfs | → |
| Keystone Gulch Near Dillon | 7 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Montezuma | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bills Ranch Lake.
Boat launches
- Co 9 Summit County
- Eagle Valley Trail Avon
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Giberson Bay Day Use Fishing Site
- Dillon Reservoir
- Officers Gulch Pond
- Curtain Ponds
- Black Lakes (Vail)
- Gibson Lake
Paddle runs
- Lower Ten Mile
- Middle Ten Mile
- Upper Ten Mile
- Silverthorne Town Run
- Breckenridge Whitewater Park (Town Run)
- Lower Snake
More reservoirs
Track Bills Ranch Lake 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 Bills Ranch Lake
Where does the data for Bills Ranch Lake 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 Bills Ranch Lake.