North Star dam
North Star
North Star is a privately owned dam located in Weld County, Colorado, along Big Dry Creek-OS. Built in 1896 for irrigation purposes, this 16-foot high earth dam provides storage for 213 acre-feet of water with a normal storage capacity of 129 acre-feet. The dam spans 1700 feet in length and covers a surface area of 25 acres, serving as a vital resource for water management in the region.
Despite its age, North Star dam is assessed to be in fair condition with a low hazard potential. It has a controlled spillway with a width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 60 cubic feet per second. The dam is subject to regular inspections by the state regulatory agency, DWR, ensuring its ongoing safety and compliance with state permitting and enforcement standards. Its risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for continued monitoring and risk management measures to safeguard against potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, North Star represents a historical piece of Colorado's water infrastructure that continues to play a crucial role in irrigation and water storage. Its location in the heart of the state's agricultural region underscores the importance of maintaining and managing such structures to ensure sustainable water resource management for the future. With a focus on safety and risk management, North Star stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource utilization in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 North Star -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek At Mouth Near Fort Lupton | 13 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Fort Lupton | 131 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 167 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 9 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 59 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Star.
Boat launches
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Brighton City Park Lake
- Ken Mitchell Park Pond
- Milavec Reservoir
- Marshall Reservoir
- Talbott Irrigation Reservoir
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
Paddle runs
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
More reservoirs
Track North Star 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 North Star
Where does the data for North Star 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 North Star.