Mckinley dam
Mckinley
Mckinley, located in Huerfano County, Colorado, is a private irrigation dam along Muddy Creek that was completed in 1911 by the USDA NRCS. With a height of 33 feet and a length of 545 feet, this earth dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond maintenance. The dam has a storage capacity of 201 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.62 square miles, making it a crucial water resource in the area.
Despite its age, Mckinley has a low hazard potential and its condition assessment is currently not available. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared and its last inspection date is not specified. With a maximum discharge capacity of 2971 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow in Muddy Creek. Although there are no associated structures or regulatory agencies listed, Mckinley remains a significant feature in the local water resource management landscape.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mckinley offers a fascinating insight into the historical development of water infrastructure in Colorado. As a privately owned irrigation dam with a century-old legacy, Mckinley stands as a testament to the enduring importance of water management in sustaining agricultural activities and ecosystem health. Its location in Gardner, Colorado, and its association with the USDA NRCS highlight the collaborative efforts between private landowners and government agencies in ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in the region.
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 Mckinley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano River At Badito | 13 cfs | → |
| Cucharas River At Boyd Ranch | 5 cfs | → |
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 15 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Turners Ranch | 6 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 3 cfs | → |
| Ute Creek Near Fort Garland | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckinley.
Campgrounds
- Pinon - Lathrop State Park
- Yucca - Lathrop State Park
- Camp Joseph
- Greenhorn Meadows Park
- Lake Isabel Cabin
- Southside - Lake Isabel
Fishing spots
- Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop Sp)
- Martin Lake
- Huerfano State Wildlife Area
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir
- Lake Beckwith
Track Mckinley 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 Mckinley
Where does the data for Mckinley 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 Mckinley.