Wilson dam
Wilson
Wilson, located in Moffat County, Colorado, is a privately-owned Earth dam completed in 1941 for the primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a height of 21 feet and a length of 1415 feet, Wilson has a storage capacity of 499 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 43 acres. The dam, situated on Good Spring Creek, is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement standards.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Wilson has not been rated for its condition as of its last inspection in 2001. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 18 feet, and it is equipped with no outlet gates or locks. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 42 square miles, emphasizing Wilson's role in managing water resources for irrigation and supporting fish and wildlife habitats. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Wilson's historical significance and ongoing contribution to the local ecosystem.
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 Wilson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Below Craig | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Near Maybell | 2,170 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 338 cfs | → |
| White River Above Coal Creek | 260 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Near Craig | 77 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Elkhead Creek Near Hayden | 1,560 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilson.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Duffy Mountain Axial Trailhead Camping
- Duffy Mountain Camping
- Duffy Mountain Upper Vista Camping
- West Duffy Mountain Camping
- Duffy Mountain - Yampa River State Park
- Juniper Canyon - Yampa River State Park
Fishing spots
- Craig City Ponds
- Craig Justice Center Ponds
- Lake Avery
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Rio Blanco Lake
- Lake Of The Woods
Track Wilson 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 Wilson
Where does the data for Wilson 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 Wilson.