Seeley Lake dam
Seeley Lake
Seeley Lake in Weld, Colorado, is a private dam that serves primarily for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1902, this earth dam stands at 18 feet high and spans 1500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 2062 acre-feet. Situated on the Cache La Poudre River, this reservoir covers an area of 260 acres and has a maximum discharge of 2000 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam is in satisfactory condition with low hazard potential, making it a reliable water resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Seeley Lake is subject to state regulations including permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a spillway width of 100 feet and a high-risk assessment rating, indicating the need for comprehensive risk management measures. With its strategic location near Greeley and the Cache La Poudre River, Seeley Lake provides not only irrigation water but also opportunities for recreational activities, making it a vital resource for both water supply and leisure in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Seeley Lake an intriguing example of sustainable water management in Colorado. As a historic dam with a long-standing service record, this reservoir showcases the importance of proper maintenance and regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and reliability of essential water infrastructure. With its scenic location and dual purpose for irrigation and recreation, Seeley Lake stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in balancing water needs with ecosystem preservation.
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 Seeley Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre River Near Greeley | 47 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 40 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Kersey | 96 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 222 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 70 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 94 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Seeley Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Crow Valley
- Crow Valley Family Campground
Fishing spots
- Poudre Ponds
- Allen Park Lake
- Promontory Point Park Ponds
- Cache La Poudre Reservoir Inlet
- Windsor Lake
- Eastman Park
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Seeley 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 Seeley Lake
Where does the data for Seeley 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 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 Seeley Lake.