Cache La Poudre dam
Cache La Poudre
Cache La Poudre, also known as Timnath Reservoir #2 Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Larimer County, Colorado. This earth dam was completed in 1977 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with additional benefits for recreation. The dam stands at a height of 43 feet, with a structural height of 60 feet and a length of 3100 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 16,200 acre-feet.
Situated on the Cache La Poudre River, this dam has a high hazard potential and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Despite its high risk profile, the condition assessment as of August 2020 remains satisfactory. The dam lacks a spillway but has a width of 833 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 34,441 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 20 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and ensuring water supply for irrigation and recreational purposes.
Cache La Poudre is a significant infrastructure in the water management system of Colorado, providing essential services for the surrounding communities. As climate change impacts water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Cache La Poudre become increasingly important to ensure their safety and effectiveness in the face of evolving environmental conditions. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate sustainability can appreciate the role of Cache La Poudre in regulating water flow and supporting multiple uses while recognizing the need for ongoing risk management and maintenance to safeguard its integrity.
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 Cache La Poudre -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 266 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 80 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 471 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cache La Poudre.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
Campgrounds
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Flatiron Reservoir
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Timnath Reservoir
- Gateway Pond
- Arapaho Bend Ponds (Fc)
- English Ranch Park
- Prospect Ponds (Fc)
- Stew Case Park Pond
Paddle runs
Track Cache La Poudre 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 Cache La Poudre
Where does the data for Cache La Poudre 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 Cache La Poudre.