Horse Creek dam
Horse Creek
Horse Creek, also known as Timber Lake, is a private irrigation dam located in Las Animas, Colorado. Built in 1900 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 30 feet tall and spans a length of 10,765 feet. With a storage capacity of 43,125 acre-feet, the dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area, covering a drainage area of 122 square miles.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 325 feet, is uncontrolled, and the structure is classified as having a significant hazard potential with a fair condition assessment. Horse Creek has been regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring that it is inspected, permitted, and enforced to meet state standards. The dam's last inspection in March 2019 revealed its moderate risk level, prompting a biennial inspection frequency to monitor its safety and maintenance needs.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Horse Creek to be an intriguing feature in the landscape of Otero County, Colorado. Its historical significance, engineering design, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the intersection of water management, infrastructure development, and environmental stewardship in the region. As an essential part of the local irrigation system, Horse Creek stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance water resource utilization with safety and sustainability 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 Horse Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Las Animas | 14 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At La Junta | 66 cfs | → |
| Purgatoire River Near Las Animas | 2 cfs | → |
| Crooked Arroyo Near Swink | 6 cfs | → |
| Timpas Creek At Mouth Near Swink | 45 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below John Martin Reservoir | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horse Creek.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Horse Creek Reservoir
- Dawn Pond
- Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake)
- Adobe Creek Reservoir
- Holbrook Reservoir
- Anticline Lake
Paddle runs
Track Horse 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 Horse Creek
Where does the data for Horse 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 Significant 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 Horse Creek.