Ellgen dam
Ellgen
Ellgen is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Moffat County, Colorado, along the Bell Rock Gulch. Completed in 1949, this earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and has a length of 345 feet, providing a storage capacity of 171 acre-feet for irrigation purposes. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2016, Ellgen is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources to ensure its safe operation.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 60 feet, and a maximum discharge capacity of 517 cubic feet per second. Its location in a scenic area near Ouray, Utah, makes it a key water resource for the local agricultural community. Despite being privately owned, Ellgen is subject to state regulations, permitting, and inspection, highlighting its importance in maintaining water security and sustainability in the region.
Overall, Ellgen serves as a crucial water infrastructure for irrigation needs in Moffat County, Colorado. With its moderate risk assessment and regular inspections, this dam plays a vital role in supporting agricultural activities and water management along the Bell Rock Gulch. Its historical significance and functional design underscore the importance of responsible water resource management 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 Ellgen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Below Craig | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 43 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Near Maybell | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 68 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 251 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ellgen.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Duffy Mountain Upper Vista Camping
- Duffy Mountain Camping
- Duffy Mountain Axial Trailhead Camping
- South Beach - Yampa River State Park
- West Duffy Mountain Camping
- Duffy Mountain - Yampa River State Park
Fishing spots
- Craig City Ponds
- Craig Justice Center Ponds
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Freeman Reservoir
- Lake Avery
- Rio Blanco Lake
Track Ellgen 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 Ellgen
Where does the data for Ellgen 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 Ellgen.