PROJ00370

• Contract/PO #: FS0031X
• Contractor Name: Yampa Project DNR 1972
• Contract Type: Miscellaneous
• Water District: 0
• County: Moffat
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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ElKHEAD CREEK DAM PROJECT
DESIGN CRITERIA

I. SCOPE
This Design Criteria describes the Elkhead Creek Dam Project, summarizes the

project data and sets forth the loading conditions, design considerations and criteria used

in the design of the spillway and outlet works.

The derivation of the spillway design flood is presented in a separate memo titled

"Spillway Design Flood Derivation for Elkhead Creek Dam". A complete discussion of

the embankment design is presented in a separate report titled "Geology, Materials and

Embankment Design - EI khead Creek Dam".

II. PROJECT DESCRI PTION
The project is located on Elkhead Creek in Section 16, T. 7 N., R. 89 W.,

approximately 8 miles northeast of the town af Craig, Colorado, in Moffat County. The

ground surfoce elevation of the dam site is approximately 6,300 feet above sea level.

The site of the Elkhead Creek Dam and Reservoir lies in a basin situated between

the Elkhead Mountains on the north and the Williams Fork Mountains on the south. The

basin is drained by the Yampa River and the Elkhead Creek is one of its major tributaries.

The source of Elkhead Creek is on the eastern slope of Saddle Mountain - one of the higher

peaks of the Elkhead Mountains. The eastern side of the basin is formed by the slopes of

Pilot Knob and Wolf Mountain and to the west the basin is bounded by gently rolling

hills. The general course of Elkhead Creek is in a southwesterly direction.

The foundation of the reservoir basin is comprised of sedimentary rocks of sand-

stones, shales and clay stone of the Lance and the Fort Union Formation of Tertiary Age.

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