Upper Robinson dam
Upper Robinson
Upper Robinson is a privately owned dam located in Routt County, Colorado, near the city of Steamboat Springs. The dam, designed by Fred C. Kraft, serves primarily for irrigation purposes but also offers recreational opportunities. Standing at a height of 24 feet with a hydraulic height of 30 feet, the earth dam has a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 580 cubic feet per second. Despite its fair condition assessment and low hazard potential, the dam is subject to state regulation and regular inspection by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
The dam's construction was completed in an unknown year, and it spans 296 feet in length with a surface area of 3 acres. The spillway, with a width of 22 feet, is uncontrolled in nature. While the risk assessment for Upper Robinson is moderate, measures for risk management are not specified in the available data. The dam's last inspection was conducted in October 2018, with a recommended inspection frequency of every 6 years. With its picturesque location along the Oak Creek-TR river, Upper Robinson stands as a vital water resource in the region, showcasing the intersection of water management and recreational activities.
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 Robinson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 353 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 943 cfs | → |
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 229 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Robinson.
Boat launches
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Us 40 Routt County
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lower Fish Creek
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
- Colorado River Segment 4
Track Upper Robinson 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 Robinson
Where does the data for Upper Robinson 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 Upper Robinson.