Walsenburg City Lake dam
Walsenburg City Lake
Walsenburg City Lake, located in Huerfano County, Colorado, is a vital water resource managed by the local government for water supply purposes. The dam, completed in 2019, stands at a height of 40 feet and has a storage capacity of 992 acre-feet. With a surface area of 50 acres and a maximum discharge of 1544 cubic feet per second, the lake serves as a key component of the Cucharas River watershed.
The dam at Walsenburg City Lake is primarily an earth structure with a stone core, resting on rock and soil foundations. It has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 30 feet. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in June 2020. The risk assessment for the site indicates a moderate risk level, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this critical water supply infrastructure in the region.
As a regulated water resource under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Walsenburg City Lake plays a crucial role in providing water for the community while also posing potential risks that must be carefully managed. With its scenic location along the Cucharas River and recent construction improvements, the lake stands as a testament to the careful planning and engineering required to balance water supply needs with the protection of surrounding areas from potential hazards.
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 Walsenburg City 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 | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Turners Ranch | 6 cfs | → |
| Huerfano R At Manzanares Xing | 15 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 Walsenburg City Lake.
Campgrounds
- Yucca - Lathrop State Park
- Pinon - Lathrop State Park
- Cordova Pass Picnic Area And Campground
- Camp Joseph
- 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 Walsenburg City 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 Walsenburg City Lake
Where does the data for Walsenburg City 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 Walsenburg City Lake.