H.A. Smith dam
H.A. Smith
H.A. Smith, a private dam located in Weld County, Colorado, stands as a historic structure completed in 1895. With a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond, this earth dam spans 600 feet in length and reaches a height of 7 feet, providing a storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. Situated on the South Platte River, H.A. Smith plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential, H.A. Smith has been deemed unsatisfactory in its condition assessment as of September 2013, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its continued functionality. With a high risk assessment rating of 2, there is a clear indication of the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to mitigate any potential hazards associated with the dam. The dam lacks a spillway, and its last inspection date was in 2013, emphasizing the need for regular assessments to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As an essential component of the water infrastructure in the area, H.A. Smith serves not only as a source of water for fire protection and livestock but also contributes to the local ecosystem. With its location on the South Platte River, the dam plays a vital role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of structures like H.A. Smith become increasingly critical to ensure the resilience and sustainability of water systems in the face of changing environmental 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 H.A. Smith -- 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 | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 59 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near H.A. Smith.
Boat launches
- Brighton
- Adams County
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- St. Vrain State Park
- Union Reservoir
- Boulder County Fairground
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Missile Site Park
Fishing spots
- Brighton City Park Lake
- Ken Mitchell Park Pond
- Barr Lake
- Hudson Fishing Pond
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
- Milavec Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
More reservoirs
Track H.A. Smith 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 H.A. Smith
Where does the data for H.A. Smith 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 H.A. Smith.