Arrowhead dam
Arrowhead
Arrowhead, a privately owned dam located in Weld County, Colorado, serves the primary purpose of irrigation on the Ashcroft Draw river. Built in 1962, Arrowhead stands at a height of 30 feet with a structural height of 38 feet and a length of 1480 feet. The dam's maximum storage capacity is 365 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 230 acre-feet and a surface area of 23 acres.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2015, Arrowhead has undergone structural modifications in 2004 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 38 feet and a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate. While the risk assessment categorizes Arrowhead as moderate, the dam has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) date, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its resilience in the face of various hydrological challenges. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Arrowhead presents a fascinating case study in the management and regulation of a vital water infrastructure in the American West.
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 Arrowhead -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 33 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River Near Greeley | 37 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 89 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Kersey | 92 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 82 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 289 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arrowhead.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- St. Vrain State Park
- Union Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
Fishing spots
- Allen Park Lake
- Poudre Ponds
- Promontory Point Park Ponds
- Ehrlich Lake
- Cache La Poudre Reservoir Inlet
- Eastman Park
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Arrowhead 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 Arrowhead
Where does the data for Arrowhead 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 Arrowhead.