Hartford dam
Hartford
Hartford is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Weld County, Colorado, along the St. Vrain River. Built in 1890, this earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and stretches 1150 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet for agricultural use. Despite its age, Hartford has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for condition assessment. The last inspection of the dam took place in October 1984, with a recommended inspection frequency of every 6 years.
While Hartford may not pose an immediate threat, its location in a high-risk area highlights the need for ongoing risk management measures. The dam is not under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. With a surface area of 13 acres and a drainage area of 0, Hartford serves primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam does not have a spillway and has not been rated for its emergency action plan or compliance with guidelines.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Hartford's infrastructure serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging dams for potential risks and hazards. While Hartford may currently have a low hazard potential, the surrounding area's high risk assessment underscores the need for continued oversight and risk management measures to ensure the safety and functionality of this vital water resource infrastructure in Weld County, Colorado.
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 Hartford -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 89 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 33 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 82 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 59 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hartford.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
- St. Vrain State Park
- Union Reservoir
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Boulder County Fairground
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Main Section
- Gnar Section
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Lower Boulder Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Hartford 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 Hartford
Where does the data for Hartford 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 Hartford.