Antelope Dam dam
Antelope Dam
Antelope Dam, located in Jackson County, Colorado, serves as a vital resource for the management of Antelope Creek and the surrounding ecosystem. Owned and operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service, this earth dam was completed in 1970 with a primary purpose of creating a fish and wildlife pond while also providing flood risk reduction benefits. With a height of 10 feet and a length of 430 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 234 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 22 acres.
The dam's infrastructure includes other controlled outlet gates and a spillway width of 37 feet. While the hazard potential is deemed low, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 was marked as unsatisfactory. Regular inspections are conducted every five years to ensure its structural integrity. Antelope Dam's role in supporting wildlife habitat and managing water resources underscores its importance in the region, despite its operational and maintenance challenges.
Efforts to address the dam's condition and improve its functionality have been ongoing, with modifications made in 2004 to enhance its hydraulic and structural components. As a regulated facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, Antelope Dam plays a crucial role in sustaining the local ecosystem and mitigating flood risks in the area. With its strategic location and purposeful design, the dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts towards water resource management and climate resilience in 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 Antelope Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan River At Walden | 87 cfs | → |
| Illinois Creek Near Rand | 81 cfs | → |
| North Platte River Near Northgate | 326 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 94 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Above Joe Wright Reservoir | 3 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Antelope Dam.
Boat launches
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
- Teal Lake Boating Site
- Chambers Lake Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site
- Sheep Mountain Rec Area
- North Sand Hills Campground
- North Sand Hills Rec Area
- North Sand Hills - Kremmling Rma
- North Sand Hills Rec Area Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- South Sec Line, Sec 2, T11n, R80w To Co/Wy Stateline
- Northgate Canyon
- Spencer Heights
- Big South
More reservoirs
Track Antelope Dam 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 Antelope Dam
Where does the data for Antelope Dam 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 Antelope Dam.