Horseshoe Lake dam
Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake, also known as Lake Miriam, is a state-regulated body of water located in Huerfano County, Colorado. This picturesque lake serves as a popular spot for recreational activities, offering opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing. The dam that creates Horseshoe Lake was completed in 1961 and stands at a height of 24 feet, with a structural height of 27 feet and a length of 4180 feet.
With a storage capacity of 3750 acre-feet, Horseshoe Lake covers a surface area of 172 acres and is fed by the Cucharas River. The dam is classified as an earth dam and features an uncontrolled spillway, with a maximum discharge capacity of 373 cubic feet per second. Despite being assessed as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is rated as fair, with the last inspection conducted in August 2020.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Horseshoe Lake not only for its recreational value but also for its role in wildlife conservation and water storage. The lake's location in the scenic Colorado landscape, along with its regulated status and structural features, make it an intriguing spot for those interested in the management and maintenance of water resources. As a significant component of the local ecosystem, Horseshoe Lake provides a valuable opportunity to study the intersection of human development and environmental stewardship in a changing climate.
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 Horseshoe Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huerfano River At Badito | 13 cfs | → |
| Cucharas River At Boyd Ranch | 5 cfs | → |
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 15 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Turners Ranch | 6 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 3 cfs | → |
| Sangre De Cristo Creek Near Fort Garland | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horseshoe Lake.
Campgrounds
- Yucca - Lathrop State Park
- Pinon - Lathrop State Park
- Camp Joseph
- Cordova Pass Picnic Area And Campground
- Greenhorn Meadows Park
- Bear Lake
Fishing spots
- Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop Sp)
- Martin Lake
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir
- Huerfano State Wildlife Area
- Lake Beckwith
Track Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake
Where does the data for Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake.