Spring Creek No 1 Dam
Spring Creek No 1
Spring Creek No 1, located in Grand Junction, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1969 by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Plateau Creek. Standing at 31 feet tall and stretching 824 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 295 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 0.25 square miles. With a low hazard potential and no recorded condition assessment, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating potential flooding in the area.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, Spring Creek No 1 is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 7,336 cubic feet per second and has a spillway width of 50 feet. Although the dam's emergency action plan and risk assessment details are not available, it remains a vital structure in the region's water resource management. With its strategic location and design, Spring Creek No 1 stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction efforts in the area, contributing to the overall resilience of the watershed.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Spring Creek No 1 offers a fascinating case study in dam construction and management. Its collaboration between private ownership and governmental agencies showcases the importance of partnerships in safeguarding communities against potential disasters. With its history dating back to the late 1960s, the dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to balance water resource management and environmental conservation in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Spring Creek No 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 4 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 17 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 31 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 14 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Cameo | 1,670 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 274 cfs | → |
About Spring Creek No 1
Where does the data for Spring Creek No 1 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 below 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.
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.