Homestake Project dam
Homestake Project
The Homestake Project, also known as the Homestake Dam or John P Elliott Dam, is a rockfill dam located in Minturn, Eagle County, Colorado. Completed in 1967, this dam serves primarily as a water supply structure. With a height of 231 feet and a length of 1996 feet, the Homestake Project has a storage capacity of 45,500 acre-feet and a normal storage of 42,900 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Middle Fork Homestake River, with a drainage area of 7 square miles.
Managed by local government authorities, the Homestake Project is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as being in satisfactory condition. In the case of an emergency, the dam has an emergency action plan in place, with the last revision made in December 2020. With its uncontrolled spillway and multiple outlet gates, the Homestake Project plays a crucial role in water resource management for the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Homestake Project -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Creek Near Gold Park | 8 cfs | → |
| Homestake Creek At Gold Park | 29 cfs | → |
| Wurtz Ditch Near Tenneessee Pass | 9 cfs | → |
| Ewing Ditch At Tennessee Pass | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Below Sugar Loaf Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Near Leadville | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Homestake Project.
Boat launches
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
- Eagle Valley Trail Avon
- Red Rooster Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Homestake Reservoir
- Turquoise Lake
- Abe Lee Fishing Site
- Camp Hale Pond Fishing Pier
- Kiln Creek
- Crystal Lakes
Track Homestake Project 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 Homestake Project
Where does the data for Homestake Project 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 Homestake Project.