Elkhead Creek dam
Elkhead Creek
Elkhead Creek, located in Moffat County, Colorado, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for fish and wildlife preservation as well as water supply purposes. The dam, completed in 1979, stands at a height of 90 feet and has a hydraulic height of 80 feet, with a storage capacity of 37,190 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 724 acres and has a drainage area of 212 square miles, making it a significant feature in the region's water management infrastructure.
With a spillway width of 76 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 28,000 cubic feet per second, Elkhead Creek Dam poses a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory in condition. Satisfying state regulations for inspection, permitting, and enforcement, this earth dam with stone core serves as a critical structure for flood control and water storage in the area. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the community it serves.
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 Elkhead Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 43 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 68 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Craig | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 861 cfs | → |
| Slater Fork Near Slater | 54 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkhead Creek.
Boat launches
- Us 40 Routt County
- Pebble Beach Boat Ramp
- Moffat County
- West Duffy Mountain Boat Ramp
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
Campgrounds
- Headquarters - Yampa River State Park
- South Beach - Yampa River State Park
- Sawmill Creek Campground
- Freeman Reservoir
- Freeman Reservoir Campground
- Duffy Mountain Upper Vista Camping
Fishing spots
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Craig City Ponds
- Craig Justice Center Ponds
- Freeman Reservoir
- Steamboat Lake
- Fetcher Park
Paddle runs
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Yampa River Segment 1
- Yampa River Segment 2
- Lower Fish Creek
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Muddy Creek
More reservoirs
Track Elkhead Creek 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 Elkhead Creek
Where does the data for Elkhead Creek 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 Elkhead Creek.