Clear Creek dam
Clear Creek
Clear Creek, also known as Otero Reservoir, is a vital water resource located in Buena Vista, Colorado, within Chaffee County. Built in 1910, this earth dam stands at a height of 70 feet and has a hydraulic height of 66 feet, serving primarily for water supply purposes. With a storage capacity of 13,560 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 11,500 acre-feet, Clear Creek covers a surface area of 425 acres and drains an area of 69 square miles.
Managed by a public utility, Clear Creek is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 1,465 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 42,000 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Clear Creek is currently in fair condition as of the last assessment in July 2020.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Clear Creek offers a fascinating look into the infrastructure supporting water supply, fish and wildlife habitats, recreation, and flood control in the region. Its historical significance, engineering design, and ongoing management make it a noteworthy example of how human intervention can both harness and protect natural resources like water in a sustainable manner.
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 Clear Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Above Clear Creek Reservoir | 120 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Granite | 150 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Granite | 371 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Above Twin Lakes Reservoir | 520 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River Below Empire Gulch Near Malta | 113 cfs | → |
| Halfmoon Creek Near Malta | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clear Creek.
Boat launches
- Cr 390 Chaffee County
- Ahra - Number 4 Rec Site
- Dexter Point Boating Site
- Red Rooster Boating Site
- Ahra - Railroad Bridge Rec Site
- Matchless Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Clear Creek Reservoir
- Sunnyside Fishing Site
- Whistler Point
- Big Mac Fishing Site
- Rich Creek
- Deception Point Fishing Site
Track Clear 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 Clear Creek
Where does the data for Clear 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 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 Clear Creek.