Standley Lake dam
Standley Lake
Standley Lake, located in Westminster, Colorado, is a privately owned reservoir managed for irrigation and water supply purposes. Built in 1913, this Earth type dam stands at a height of 113 feet, with a structural height of 123 feet and a length of 5900 feet. The lake has a storage capacity of 54,740 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 43,344 acre-feet, and covers a surface area of 1222 acres. It is situated along Big Dry Creek and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2020, Standley Lake is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its safety and functionality. The reservoir has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 320 feet and two valve outlet gates. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the lake has not had any modifications in recent years and meets regulatory guidelines for emergency action plans.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Standley Lake offers a fascinating example of a historic dam and reservoir system in Colorado. Its strategic location along Big Dry Creek and its role in irrigation and water supply make it a valuable resource for the surrounding area. As a privately owned facility with state oversight, Standley Lake serves as a model for responsible water management and infrastructure maintenance in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Standley Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 13 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 96 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Standley Lake.
Boat launches
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Camp Patiya
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Bear Creek Lake Park
Fishing spots
Track Standley Lake 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 Standley Lake
Where does the data for Standley Lake 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 High 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 Standley Lake.