Upper Blue dam
Upper Blue
Upper Blue is a rockfill dam situated in Breckenridge, Colorado, along the Monte Cristo Creek. Completed in 1965, this dam serves as a critical water supply source for the region, with a storage capacity of 2,635 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 2,922 cubic feet per second. The dam stands at a height of 75 feet and has a spillway width of 60 feet, making it a vital structure for managing water resources in the area.
Owned and regulated by the local government, Upper Blue is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. In case of emergencies, the dam is equipped with four valve outlet gates for proper water release. With a moderate risk assessment rating, Upper Blue plays a crucial role in mitigating water-related risks and ensuring a stable water supply for the community. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Upper Blue to be an essential infrastructure contributing to sustainable water management in Summit County, Colorado.
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 Upper Blue -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monte Cristo Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | · | → |
| Mccullough-Sp-Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | · | → |
| Bemrose-Hoosier Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | · | → |
| Blue River At Blue River | 25 cfs | → |
| Columbine Ditch Near Fremont Pass | 10 cfs | → |
| East Fork Eagle River Near Climax | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Blue.
Boat launches
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Kite Lake
- Kite Lake Campground
- Boreas Pass Section House
- Selkirk Campground
- Selkirk
- Camp Hale East Fork Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Montgomery Reservoir
- Curtain Ponds
- Officers Gulch Pond
- Camp Hale Pond Fishing Pier
- Black Lakes (Vail)
- Jefferson Lake
Track Upper Blue 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 Upper Blue
Where does the data for Upper Blue 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 Upper Blue.