Spring Creek dam
Spring Creek
Spring Creek in Colorado is a privately-owned fish and wildlife pond with a low hazard potential and unsatisfactory condition assessment. This earth dam, completed in 1932, stands at a height of 8 feet and has a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 70 acre-feet and a drainage area of 29 square miles, the dam serves as a critical resource for the surrounding ecosystem.
Located in Mineral County, Spring Creek spans over 33 acres with a maximum discharge of 273 cubic feet per second. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 10 feet, and it has not been modified in recent years. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam has not been inspected since August 2006, raising concerns about its current state and the need for updated safety measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Spring Creek presents an intriguing case study in dam management and maintenance. As a vital habitat for fish and wildlife, the dam's structural integrity and regulatory oversight are essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of the surrounding environment. With its historical significance and potential risks, Spring Creek serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing water resource management with environmental conservation in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Spring Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge | 510 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Bl Continental Reservoir | 17 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Wagon Wheel Gap | 836 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Wagonwheel Gap | 128 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Blw Lake San Cristobal Nr Lake City | 144 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Howardsville | 272 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Creek.
Boat launches
- Cr 10 Hinsdale County
- Rito Hondo Reservoir Boating Site
- Cr 11 Hinsdale County
- Devil's Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Alberta Lake Fishing Site
Campgrounds
- Crooked Creek Dispersed Area
- Bristol Head
- Bristol Head Campground
- Silver Thread
- North Clear Creek Campground
- Silver Thread Campground
Fishing spots
- Road Canyon Reservoir
- Road Canyon Reservoir Number 1
- Road Canyon Dam Fishing Site
- Brown Lakes Swa
- Continental Reservoir Fishing Site
- Continental Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Below Rio Grande Reservoir (Sec 13, T40n, R4w) To Spring Creek (Sec 31, T41n, R2w)
- Snowslide Canyon Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Rincon La Vaca--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Sec 10, T42n, R1e To Sec 13, T41n, R1e
- Rincon La Osa--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Middle Fork--Headwaters To Weminuche Wilderness Boundary
Track Spring Creek 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 Spring Creek
Where does the data for Spring Creek 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 Spring Creek.