Mccargar dam
Mccargar
Mccargar, located in Slater, Colorado, is a private dam with a primary purpose of serving as a fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1974, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is state-regulated and subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
Sitting on Independence Creek, Mccargar plays a crucial role in providing water for fish and wildlife while also serving as a vital resource for fire protection in the area. With a spillway width of 20 feet and a maximum discharge of 323 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle moderate risk situations. The surrounding area benefits from the dam's presence, with a surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area of 0 acres.
Overall, Mccargar's strategic location in Routt County, Colorado, highlights its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. As a key component of the local ecosystem, this dam represents a valuable asset for maintaining water security, supporting wildlife habitats, and safeguarding against potential fire emergencies in the region.
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 Mccargar -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Snake River Near Slater | 309 cfs | → |
| Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr | 298 cfs | → |
| Slater Fork Near Slater | 60 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 705 cfs | → |
| Elkhead Creek Above Long Gulch | 74 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 621 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mccargar.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Hahns Peak Lake
- Hahns Peak Lake Campground
- Steamboat Lake State Park
- Hans Peak
- Pearl Lake State Park
- Cdt Crossing Campsite
Fishing spots
- Steamboat Lake
- Pearl Lake
- Hog Park Reservoir
- Big Creek Lake(Upper)
- Big Creek Lakes Day Use Area
- Big Creek Lake(Lower)
Paddle runs
- Wy-Co State Line To Encampment River Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters (Continental Divide) And Its West Fork (From West Fork Lake) To North Section Line, Sec 21, T12n, R84w
- Encampment River Wilderness Boundary To Medicine Bow Nf Boundary
- Encampment River
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
Track Mccargar 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 Mccargar
Where does the data for Mccargar 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 Mccargar.