Meadow Creek dam
Meadow Creek
Meadow Creek is a privately-owned dam located in Jackson, Colorado, with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1980, this earth dam stands at a height of 45 feet and has a storage capacity of 5775 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, fish and wildlife habitat, flood risk reduction, irrigation, recreation, and water supply for the surrounding area.
With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Meadow Creek dam poses a moderate risk level. It has a controlled spillway width of 12 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 180 cubic feet per second. The dam has undergone inspections every 6 years, with the last assessment conducted in June 2019. Despite being privately owned, the state of Colorado regulates and permits the operation of the dam, ensuring its compliance with safety standards and enforcement measures.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area can appreciate Meadow Creek as an essential infrastructure for water management in the region. Its role in supporting agriculture, wildlife, and recreational activities highlights the importance of sustainable water resource practices. The dam's strategic location and design contribute to maintaining a balance between water supply needs and environmental conservation efforts in Jackson, Colorado.
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 Meadow Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Creek Near Rand | 42 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Above Joe Wright Reservoir | 3 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 6 cfs | → |
| Michigan River At Walden | 38 cfs | → |
| Michigan River Near Cameron Pass | 4 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meadow Creek.
Boat launches
- Chambers Lake Boating Site
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
Campgrounds
- North Michigan - State Forest State Park
- Bockman - State Forest State Park
- Ranger Lakes - State Forest State Park
- Chambers Lake
- Tunnel
- Tunnel Campground
Fishing spots
- North Michigan Reservoir
- Ranger Lakes
- Joe Wright Fishing Site
- Joe Wright Reservoir
- Chambers Lake
- Lost Lake (Cameron Pass)
Track Meadow Creek 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 Meadow Creek
Where does the data for Meadow Creek 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 Meadow Creek.