Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 dam
Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1
The Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 is a federal-owned structure located in Weld County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Eaton. This watershed is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1961, the Earth-type dam stands at 51 feet high with a hydraulic height of 51 feet and a structural height of 64 feet, spanning a length of 2544 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 2754 acre-feet and covers a drainage area of 27 square miles, with a spillway width of 302 feet for uncontrolled discharge.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and being in a satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2016, the Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 still poses a moderate risk. It is subject to regular inspections every three years to ensure its safety and effectiveness in flood prevention. The structure, designed by the USDA NRCS, plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area and protecting the surrounding communities from potential flooding events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and monitoring the operations and maintenance of structures like the Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 is essential for sustainable water management practices and mitigation of climate-related risks.
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 Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 237 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 184 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River Near Greeley | 72 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 116 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 652 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Kersey | 200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
Campgrounds
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Crow Valley
- Crow Valley Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 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 Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1
Where does the data for Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1 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 Coal Bank Watershed Cb-1.