Law dam
Law
Law, John is a historic earth dam located in Windsor, Colorado, completed in 1896 for irrigation purposes along the Slough river. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 500 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 310 acre-feet and serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area. Despite its age, Law, John is still in operation, regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 160 feet, is uncontrolled, and the hazard potential is rated as low. However, the condition assessment in June 2020 revealed that Law, John was in an unsatisfactory state, warranting further attention and maintenance. It is noteworthy that the risk assessment for this dam is moderate (3), indicating a need for proactive risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of the downstream community in case of emergencies.
Law, John's rich history, combined with its essential role in providing irrigation water to the region, makes it a significant landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As efforts are made to address its current unsatisfactory condition and manage potential risks, this dam continues to stand as a testament to the importance of maintaining and safeguarding our water infrastructure for future generations.
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 Law -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 272 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River Near Greeley | 40 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Near Kersey | 92 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Law.
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
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Law 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 Law
Where does the data for Law 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 Law.