Warren Lake dam
Warren Lake
Warren Lake, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a historic earth dam completed in 1882 primarily used for irrigation purposes. With a dam height of 23 feet and a storage capacity of 2,794 acre-feet, this reservoir on the Cache la Poudre River covers an impressive surface area of 166 acres. The dam, classified as having a high hazard potential but in satisfactory condition, has a spillway width of 47 feet to handle a maximum discharge of 1,045 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Warren Lake continues to serve as a vital resource for water management in the region, with state regulation and inspection ensuring its safe operation. The dam's location in Windsor, Colorado, not only supports irrigation needs but also offers recreational opportunities for the community. Managed by a private owner, Warren Lake stands as a testament to the engineering ingenuity of the past, providing essential water storage for agricultural use while also contributing to the local ecosystem.
As climate change impacts water resources, the significance of structures like Warren Lake in sustaining water supply and managing risks becomes increasingly apparent. Its moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the dam's resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Warren Lake represents both a historical landmark and a critical component of Colorado's water infrastructure, embodying the balance between human needs and environmental stewardship in a changing world.
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 Warren Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 272 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 20 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 499 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Warren Lake.
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
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Missile Site Park
- Flatiron Reservoir
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Warren Park Pond
- Golden Meadow Park (Ft. Collins)
- Stew Case Park Pond
- Miramont Park (Ft. Collins)
- English Ranch Park
- Troutman Park (Fort Collins)
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Warren 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 Warren Lake
Where does the data for Warren 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 Warren Lake.