Windsor dam
Windsor
Windsor, located in Denver, Colorado, is home to the picturesque Windsor Lake, also known as Fairmont Lake. This private reservoir, constructed in 1892 by FUTURA ENGINEERING, serves primarily for irrigation purposes. With a dam height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 735 acre-feet, Windsor Lake provides crucial water resources for the surrounding area.
Regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Windsor Lake has a spillway width of 68 feet and a maximum discharge of 1356 cubic feet per second. Despite its historical importance and structural modifications over the years, the dam's condition assessment in 2021 deemed it unsatisfactory, with a high hazard potential. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are essential for mitigating potential risks associated with this critical water infrastructure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Windsor an intriguing case study, showcasing the intersection of historical engineering achievements, regulatory oversight, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining aging infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental risks. As Windsor continues to play a vital role in irrigation and water management in the region, proactive measures and investments in infrastructure resilience will be crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of this essential water resource.
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 Windsor -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Gulch At Colorado Blvd. | 0 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek Below Cherry Creek Lake | 22 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 2 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek At Denver | 39 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 104 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Windsor.
Boat launches
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Bear Creek Lake Park
Fishing spots
- Exposition Park Pond
- Garland Park Lake (Lollipop Lake)
- Smith Lake - Washington Park
- City Park Lake (Denver)
- Grasmere Lake
- Cherry Creek Reservoir
Track Windsor 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 Windsor
Where does the data for Windsor 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 Windsor.