Peterson Lake dam
Peterson Lake
Peterson Lake in Larimer, Colorado, is a gravity dam completed in 1973 primarily for water supply purposes, serving both irrigation and domestic water needs in the area. With a height of 78 feet and a storage capacity of 1409 acre-feet, the dam stands as a crucial piece of infrastructure in the Cache La Poudre River watershed. Its high hazard potential is balanced by a satisfactory condition assessment, ensuring its reliability in providing water to the surrounding community.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Peterson Lake's spillway, with a width of 425 feet, helps control water flow during periods of high discharge. The dam's rock foundation and multi-arch core types contribute to its structural integrity, while its uncontrolled spillway type ensures effective water release when needed. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam's last inspection in July 2020 deemed it to be in satisfactory condition, highlighting its importance in water management and supply in the region.
Located in Fort Collins and under the jurisdiction of the Sacramento District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Peterson Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for water storage and supply in the region. With a surface area of 55 acres and a drainage area of 2 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in a sustainable and effective manner. Its history of successful operation and maintenance, coupled with its strategic location in the Cache La Poudre River watershed, underscores the importance of Peterson Lake in ensuring reliable water access for agricultural and urban needs in Larimer County, Colorado.
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 Peterson Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 30 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Above Joe Wright Reservoir | 3 cfs | → |
| Michigan River Near Cameron Pass | 7 cfs | → |
| Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass | 101 cfs | → |
| Colorado R Below Baker Gulch | 162 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peterson Lake.
Boat launches
- Chambers Lake Boating Site
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 875, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
- Hilltop Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Trap Lake
- Barnes Meadow Reservoir
- Long Draw #1 Fishing Site
- Long Draw #3 Fishing Site
- Long Draw #2 Fishing Site
- Joe Wright Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Big South
- Spencer Heights
- Headwaters To Fan Lake
- Headwaters To Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of Fern Lake Road
- Begins 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road To Ends Where River Segment Exits Rocky Mountain National Park
More reservoirs
Track Peterson 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 Peterson Lake
Where does the data for Peterson 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 Peterson Lake.