Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) dam
Horseshoe Lake (East Dam)
Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) in Loveland, Colorado, stands as a testament to water resource management and climate adaptation with its primary purpose being irrigation. Completed in 1905, this earth dam plays a crucial role in providing water for agriculture while also offering recreational opportunities. The dam has a height of 35 feet and a storage capacity of 10,559 acre-feet, serving as a significant water storage facility in the region.
With a significant hazard potential due to its size and location, the dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity. The condition assessment in 2019 deemed it satisfactory, showing that proper maintenance and management measures are in place to mitigate risks. Its spillway, with a width of 1044 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for effective discharge during high water events. The surrounding Big Thompson River provides a crucial source of water for the reservoir, highlighting the interconnectedness of water resources in the area.
Managed by private owners but regulated by the state, Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) exemplifies the collaborative effort needed to sustainably manage water resources in the face of changing climates. With its historical significance and modern adaptations, this dam serves as a vital component of the water infrastructure in Larimer County, Colorado. Its role in irrigation, recreation, and flood control showcases the multifaceted benefits of well-designed water resource systems in a rapidly evolving environment.
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 Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 81 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 262 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 37 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 257 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 71 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 181 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horseshoe Lake (East Dam).
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
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Missile Site Park
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) 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 Horseshoe Lake (East Dam)
Where does the data for Horseshoe Lake (East Dam) 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 Significant 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 Horseshoe Lake (East Dam).