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Rifle Gap Dam

Rifle Gap Dam and Reservoir, Colorado


Statistics

General

  • Region (Map) : .................. Upper Colorado
  • State (Map) ........................ Colorado
  • County ................................ Garfield
  • Project: ................................ Silt
  • Dam type: ........................... Zoned Earthfill
  • Location: ............................ 5.5 mi N of Rifle
  • Watercourse: ..................... Rifle Creek
  • Reservoir: ........................... Rifle Gap
  • Construction Date: ............1964-1967
  • National ID Number .......... CO01692
  • Hydrologic Unit Code .....

Dimensions


Hydraulics

  • Normal Water Surface Elev: ............... 5960.0 ft
  • Hydraulic Height: .................................. 102.0 ft
  • Service Spillway Type:
  •    Uncontrolled  Crest   ................................ Yes
  •    Morning-Glory ........................................... No
  •    Crest Length    .............................................  ft
  •    Gated      ...................................................... No
  •    Capacity at Elev:  5971.8 ft,             3 ,645 cfs
  • Auxiliary Spillway ......................................... No
  •     Capacity at Elev.   .................................. 0 cfs
  • Outlet Works Capacity at
  •     Elevation  5971.8 ft.,  .......................... 344 cfs

Hydrology

Flood Type: ............ Local Storm PMF General

  Peak Inflow: ...................................... 77,100 cfs

  •   Inflow Volume: ........................... 20,700 acre-ft
  •   Flow Duration: ....................................... 1 days
  •   PMF Routing MWS Elev.: ...............5982.82 ft
  •   Initial Routing Elev: ........................... 5960.0 ft
  •   Study Date: ................................. October 1988


Power Generation


Narration

 


Geology

Rifle Gap Dam is located at the head of a narrow canyon eroded through the Grand Hogback by Rifle Gap.  The hogback stands in relief above the adjacent topography because it is formed by Mesaverde sandstone and shale which are most resistant to erosion than formations an either side.  Mancos shale outcrops north of the hogbacks and forms a strike valley.  The soft Wasatch and Ohio Creek formations are found to the south and form valleys and badlands topography.  Prior to construction West Rifle Creek and East Rifle Creek merged to form Rifle Creek at a point approximately 400 feet downstream from the centerline of the dam.  Valley fill in the area is as thick as 120 feet or more.  The fill consists of coalescing stream deposits, alluvial fan material, and in the upper portions, variable thickness of glacial outwash fan material.  A considerable portion of the slopes above the valley are covered with slope wash.  A small northwest-southeast fault was mapped between the upper and lower axes during preliminary exploration.  The fault is located about 100 feet south of the downstream toe of the dam.  Records indicate that rock on either side of the fault is sheared in the left abutment. 


Links

 | Recreation |

 | Dams Located by State | USBR Colorado Dams | Upper Colorado Region Dams |

 | Owner:  Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office,
                   PO Box 60340, Grand Junction, CO 81506-0340, (970) 248-0690

 | Operator:  Silt Water Conservancy District,
                       Box 8, Silt, CO 81652, (970) 876-2393

 

 

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