Hook dam
Hook
Located in Parkdale, Colorado, the Hook dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and water resource management since its completion in 1903. This private irrigation structure on Spruce Creek serves multiple purposes, including irrigation and supporting fish and wildlife in the area. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 282 feet, the earth dam has a storage capacity of 35 acre-feet, making it a vital component of the local water supply infrastructure.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, the Hook dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam undergoes regular inspections to mitigate any potential risks. The spillway, with a width of 40 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing excess water to safely pass through during times of heavy rainfall or snowmelt. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the Hook dam remains an essential feature in the water management system of Fremont County, Colorado.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and ecosystems, structures like the Hook dam play a crucial role in maintaining a balance between human needs and environmental sustainability. With its efficient design and historical significance, the Hook dam exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of irrigation, wildlife conservation, and water management in a rapidly changing world.
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 Hook -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grape Creek Near Westcliffe | 6 cfs | → |
| Cotton Creek Near Mineral Hot Springs | 9 cfs | → |
| North Crestone Creek Near Crestone | 10 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Parkdale | 285 cfs | → |
| Arkansas River At Canon City | 207 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek Near Crestone | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hook.
Boat launches
- Ahra - Lone Pine Rec Site
- Ahra - Canyon Trading Post
- Ahra - Vallie Bridge Rec Site
- Ahra - Pinnacle Rock Rec Site
- Ahra - Spikebuck Rec Site
- Ahra - Rincon Rec Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Deweese Reservoir
- Sands Lake Swa
- Frantz Lake Swa
- Riverside Ponds (Mt. Ouray Swa)
- O`Haver Lake
- Brush Hollow Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Hook 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 Hook
Where does the data for Hook 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 Hook.