Ice Lake dam
Ice Lake
Ice Lake, located in Clear Creek, Colorado, is a privately owned reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1900, this earth dam stands at a height of 110 feet and has a storage capacity of 511 acre-feet. With a surface area of 20 acres, Ice Lake provides water for agricultural activities in the area, while also supporting recreational activities. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 1985.
The dam does not have a spillway and is not associated with any federal agencies for funding or maintenance. While it is state-regulated and subject to inspection and enforcement by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, its risk assessment is classified as high (2). The surrounding area, which includes the Fall River and is located 11 miles from Idaho Springs, presents a beautiful landscape for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the importance of responsible dam management in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ice Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fraser River At Upper Sta | 22 cfs | → |
| Moffat Water Tunnel At East Portal | 204 cfs | → |
| Berthoud Pass Ditch At Berthoud Pass | -999 cfs | → |
| West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire | 49 cfs | → |
| Fraser River At Winter Park | 16 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Lawson | 111 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ice Lake.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Us 34 Grand County
Campgrounds
- Robbers Roost
- Midland Group Campground
- Robbers Roost Campground
- Jim Creek Campground
- Empire City Rv Parking
- Idlewild
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Upper South Boulder Creek
- Upper Clear Creek
- Lower Snake
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Lower Boulder Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Ice 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 Ice Lake
Where does the data for Ice 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 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 Ice Lake.