Floodwater Ret. B-5 dam
Floodwater Ret. B-5
Located in Larimer County, Colorado, Floodwater Retention B-5 is a privately-owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1977. With a height of 80 feet and a storage capacity of 2502 acre-feet, this structure plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the South Branch Boxelder Creek. The dam covers a surface area of 77 acres and has a drainage area of 18 square miles, providing protection to the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Floodwater Retention B-5 is classified as having a significant hazard potential but is currently rated as being in satisfactory condition. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure the structure's integrity, with the last assessment carried out in October 2019. Despite its high risk assessment, the dam has no spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 14,807 cubic feet per second, highlighting its importance in mitigating flood events and protecting downstream communities. With its strategic location and design, Floodwater Retention B-5 stands as a vital asset in the region's water resource management efforts.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is crucial for coordinating response efforts and ensuring public safety. While specific details regarding the EAP's status and adherence to guidelines are not provided in the data, the presence of a risk assessment indicating a high risk level underscores the importance of proactive risk management measures. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and intensify precipitation events, the role of structures like Floodwater Retention B-5 becomes increasingly vital in safeguarding communities and infrastructure from the dangers of flooding.
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 Floodwater Ret. B-5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 1 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 10 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 733 cfs | → |
| Crow Creek At 19th Street | 3 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 365 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 493 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Floodwater Ret. B-5.
Boat launches
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Seaman Reservoir
- Smith Lake (Lar. Cty.) (Boxelder #3)
- Granite Springs Reservoir
- Douglas Reservoir
- Lower North Crow Reservoir
- Watson Lake
Paddle runs
- Lower North Fork
- Co Dow Anlger Access Trail To Nf Boundary On East Section Line, Sec 24, T11n, R72w
- Intermittent Stream To Junction With Co Division Of Wildlife Angler Access Trail In Sw 1/4 Sec 22, T11n, R72w
- Upper North Fork
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
- Filter Plant
Track Floodwater Ret. B-5 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 Floodwater Ret. B-5
Where does the data for Floodwater Ret. B-5 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 Significant 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 Floodwater Ret. B-5.