Mcgowan dam
Mcgowan
Mcgowan, located in Jackson, Colorado, is a privately-owned dam constructed in 1951 for irrigation purposes on the MID FK MEXICAN CREEK. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 250 feet, it provides a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 137 cubic feet per second. The dam has a low hazard potential and is rated in fair condition as of the last inspection in July 2017.
While Mcgowan primarily serves irrigation needs, it also supports fire protection, stock watering, and recreational activities. Despite being regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years. Its spillway, with a width of 10 feet, is uncontrolled. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mcgowan represents a vital piece of infrastructure in Colorado's water management system. Its role in supporting agricultural activities and local communities underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams to mitigate risks and ensure sustainable water use in the face of changing environmental conditions. As one of many dams in the region, Mcgowan serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of water resources and the need for responsible stewardship to adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities in 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 Mcgowan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 143 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 200 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 621 cfs | → |
| Illinois Creek Near Rand | 47 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Above Antelope Creek Nr. Kremmling | 50 cfs | → |
| Michigan River At Walden | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcgowan.
Boat launches
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
Campgrounds
- Hidden Lakes
- Hidden Lakes Campground
- Grizzly Guard Station Recreation Rental
- Grizzly Creek
- Teal Lake
- Teal Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
- Lower Fish Creek
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Gore Canyon
- Colorado River Segment 4
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
More reservoirs
Track Mcgowan 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 Mcgowan
Where does the data for Mcgowan 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 Mcgowan.