Million Reservoir dam
Million Reservoir
Million Reservoir, also known as Mill Creek, is a federally owned water storage facility located in Rio Grande County, Colorado. Managed by the USDA Forest Service, this reservoir was completed in 1953 and serves the primary purpose of recreation, with secondary purposes including irrigation. The dam structure itself is an earth-type design, standing at 25 feet high and spanning 290 feet in length.
With a storage capacity of 240 acre-feet, Million Reservoir plays a crucial role in water resource management within the region. Its location on private property, fed by a ditch from Mill Creek, underscores its significance for both local agriculture and recreational activities. Despite its high hazard potential, the reservoir has not been rated for condition assessment, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term safety and functionality.
As a key water infrastructure in the Sacramento District, Million Reservoir contributes to the overall water resource management efforts in Colorado. Its strategic location and significant storage capacity make it an essential asset for both water supply and recreational use, highlighting the intricate connections between water resources and climate resilience 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 Million Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Rio Grande At South Fork | 599 cfs | → |
| Pinos Creek Near Del Norte | 39 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Near Del Norte | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 131 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Wightman Fork Bel Cropsy Creek At Summitville | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Million Reservoir.
Campgrounds
- Lower Beaver Creek
- Lower Beaver Creek Campground
- Highway Springs
- Highway Springs Campground
- Upper Beaver Creek
- Upper Beaver Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Million Reservoir Fishing Site
- Beaver Creek Reservoir
- Shaw Lake
- Poage Lake Fishing Site
- Pass Creek Lake Fishing Site
- Big Meadows Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Below Big Meadows Reservoir Dam To Sec 9 And 10, T39n, R3e
- Sec 30, T41n, R2e To Sec 11, T40n, R2e
- Headwaters (Sec 21, T38n, R1e) To 1/4 Mile Above Big Meadows Reservoir
- Sec 10, T42n, R1e To Sec 13, T41n, R1e
- El Rito Azul--Blue Lake (Sec 26, T35n, R3e) And Portion Of Conejos Above Platoro Reservoir To Upper Reach Of Platoro Reservoir--Sec 6, T35n, R4e
- East Fork--Unnamed Ponds Approx 1/4 Mile Below Continental Divide To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
Track Million Reservoir 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 Million Reservoir
Where does the data for Million Reservoir 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 Million Reservoir.