Fish Creek
Fish Creek is an earth dam located in Routt County, Colorado, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fish Creek
The primary purpose of Fish Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Steamboat Springs (carr, Public Works Dire (local government). It impounds the Middle Fork Fish Creek near Steamboat Springs.
The dam stands 88 feet tall and stretches 868 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 136 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,359 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/04/2022.
At 88 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Routt |
| Nearest City | Steamboat Springs |
| River/Stream | Middle Fork Fish Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.49390, -106.70557 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Length | 868 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,359 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,359 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,167 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 136 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,589 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS (CARR, PUBLIC WORKS DIRE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01020 |
| Federal ID | CO01020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |