Pickle Jar Reservoir dam
Pickle Jar Reservoir
Located in the picturesque town of Black Hawk, Colorado, the Pickle Jar Reservoir is a gravity dam constructed in 2001 by the Applegate Group Inc. The reservoir serves as a vital water supply source for the region, with a storage capacity of 31 acre-feet and a surface area of 1 acre. Situated along the Pickle Gulch, this reservoir plays a crucial role in sustaining the surrounding community and ecosystem.
With a dam height of 43 feet and a spillway width of 66 feet, the Pickle Jar Reservoir boasts a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the reservoir has undergone regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The surrounding area, including Gilpin County, Colorado, benefits from the reservoir's water storage capabilities and regulated operations, making it an essential component of the local water resource infrastructure.
Managed by a private owner, the Pickle Jar Reservoir exemplifies the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of climate change and increasing water demands. Its role in providing reliable water supply for the region underscores the significance of reservoirs in mitigating water scarcity and ensuring water security for future generations. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find Pickle Jar Reservoir to be a captivating example of infrastructure that balances environmental conservation with human needs.
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 Pickle Jar Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fall River Near Idaho Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Lawson | 111 cfs | → |
| Moffat Water Tunnel At East Portal | 204 cfs | → |
| Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co | 10 cfs | → |
| West Fork Clear Creek Abv Mouth Nr Empire | 49 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pickle Jar Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Central City Park Pond
- Philadelphia Mill Site Open Space Park
- Fishing Is Fun #4
- Charlie Taylor Water Wheel Park
- Game Check Trailhead
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Track Pickle Jar 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 Pickle Jar Reservoir
Where does the data for Pickle Jar 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 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 Pickle Jar Reservoir.