Jasper dam
Jasper
Located in Boulder, Colorado, the Jasper dam on Jasper Creek serves as a critical water supply structure built in 1988 with a primary purpose of water supply. This privately owned Rockfill dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 426 acre-feet, providing water for various purposes in the region. With a surface area of 28 acres and a spillway width of 45 feet, the dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in August 2020.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the Jasper dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures. While the dam has not been significantly modified over the years, its emergency action plan and inundation maps are crucial components for preparedness in case of emergencies, although their last updates are pending.
Jasper dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the region, providing a reliable water supply for Eldora and surrounding areas. With its strategic location and design features, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for water storage and distribution, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management amidst changing climate conditions. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Jasper dam presents an intriguing case study of infrastructure resilience and adaptation in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Jasper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Creek Near Fraser | 9 cfs | → |
| Moffat Water Tunnel At East Portal | 127 cfs | → |
| Ranch Creek Near Fraser | 3 cfs | → |
| Vasquez Creek At Winter Park | 5 cfs | → |
| Fraser River At Winter Park | 11 cfs | → |
| Middle Boulder Creek At Nederland | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jasper.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Grand County
- Willow Creek Boating Site
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
Campgrounds
- Buckingham
- Caribou Dispersed Camping Area
- Rainbow Lakes
- Rainbow Lakes Campground
- Hideaway Park Dispersed
- Idlewild
Fishing spots
- Jasper Lake - Ipwa
- Storm Lake - Ipwa
- Devil`S Thumb Lake - Ipwa
- Banana Lake - Ipwa
- Upper Diamond Lake - Ipwa
- Diamond Lake - Ipwa
Paddle runs
- Upper South Boulder Creek
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115
- Nsv
- Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115 To Eastern Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
More reservoirs
Track Jasper 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 Jasper
Where does the data for Jasper 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 Jasper.