Haviland Lake dam
Haviland Lake
Haviland Lake, located in La Plata County, Colorado, is a captivating destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This state-regulated fish and wildlife pond, completed in 1927, covers a surface area of 61 acres and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,025 acre-feet. The dam, standing at a height of 26 feet, serves multiple purposes including recreation and supporting local wildlife.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Haviland Lake's dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a slide (sluice gate) outlet. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated recently. The surrounding Elbert Creek-TR river and stream ecosystem benefits from Haviland Lake's presence, with a drainage area of 4 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 585 cubic feet per second. Visitors to Haviland Lake can appreciate its scenic beauty while also recognizing its importance in supporting local biodiversity and recreational activities.
For those interested in water resource management and conservation efforts, Haviland Lake stands as a prime example of balancing human recreation with ecological stewardship. With a history dating back nearly a century, this Earth-type dam continues to provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife while offering a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts. As climate change impacts become more apparent, the careful monitoring and upkeep of dams like Haviland Lake will be crucial in ensuring the resilience of our water resources in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Haviland Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Animas River Above Tacoma | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Vallecito Creek Near Bayfield | 451 cfs | → |
| Dolores River Below Rico | 332 cfs | → |
| Florida R Bl Flor Farmers Ditch | 12 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Durango | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Animas River Below Silverton | 646 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Haviland Lake.
Campgrounds
- Haviland Lake
- Haviland Lake Campground
- Chris Park Group Campground
- Lower Hermosa Campground
- Purgatory
- Sig Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Animas River
- South Mineral Creek
- Confluence With Rincon La Vaca And North Fork To Northern Line Of Granite Peak Ranch
- Lake Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Flint Creek--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
- Rincon La Osa--Headwaters To Confluence With Los Pinos
More reservoirs
Track Haviland 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 Haviland Lake
Where does the data for Haviland 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 Haviland Lake.