Stambaugh dam
Stambaugh
Stambaugh, located in Jackson, Colorado, is a private water resource with a primary purpose of irrigation. Built in 1913, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 139 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Little Grizzly Creek, is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, ensuring that it meets state inspection, permitting, and enforcement standards.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Stambaugh poses a high risk due to its age and the lack of updated emergency action plans and risk management measures. The dam has not been modified in recent years and has a spillway width of 20 feet. Being under the jurisdiction of the Sacramento District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Stambaugh faces the challenge of meeting modern safety guidelines and enhancing its risk management strategies to mitigate potential disasters.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Stambaugh an intriguing subject for study due to its historical significance, irrigation importance, and the need for improved risk management practices. With its location in a picturesque setting in Colorado and its vital role in water management, Stambaugh serves as a significant case study for understanding the complexities of balancing water resource utilization with environmental conservation and safety considerations.
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 Stambaugh -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Cr At Upper Sta Nr Steamboat Springs | 229 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 353 cfs | → |
| Yampa River At Steamboat Springs | 943 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Milner | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stambaugh.
Boat launches
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
Campgrounds
- Hidden Lakes
- Hidden Lakes Campground
- Grizzly Guard Station Recreation Rental
- Grizzly Creek
- Summit Lake
- Granite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lower Fish Creek
- Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9n, R82w); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8n, R82w) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9n, R82w
- Headwaters Of North, Middle And South Forks To Confluence Of South Fork With Encampment River
- Pumphouse To Double Bridges
- Colorado River Segment 4
- Gore Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Stambaugh 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 Stambaugh
Where does the data for Stambaugh 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 Stambaugh.