Mead dam
Mead
Mead is a fish and wildlife pond nestled in Weld County, Colorado, near the city of Mead. This local government-owned structure serves as a recreational area and is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. Mead's primary purpose is to support fish and wildlife, with a dam height of 17 feet and a storage capacity of 132 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Mead poses a high risk due to its location and surrounding factors. The dam, primarily made of earth, stands at a structural height of 18 feet and stretches over 3,275 feet in length. With a drainage area of 0 and a surface area of 14 acres, Mead provides essential habitat for various species while offering recreational opportunities for visitors.
Ensuring the safety and maintenance of Mead is crucial to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the surrounding environment. Regular inspections and adherence to regulatory guidelines are essential to uphold the dam's integrity and protect the communities and ecosystems that rely on this vital water resource. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed and engaged in the conservation efforts for sites like Mead is essential for sustainable water management and environmental stewardship.
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 Mead -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 181 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 44 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 181 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mead.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
Campgrounds
- Union Reservoir
- St. Vrain State Park
- Boulder County Fairground
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
- Meadow Park
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
- Mead Ponds
- Union Reservoir
- St. Vrain State Park (Barbour Ponds)
- Roberts Lake
- Loomiller Park Pond
- Izaak Walton Pond
Paddle runs
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Main Section
- Gnar Section
More reservoirs
Track Mead 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 Mead
Where does the data for Mead 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 Mead.