Nelson dam
Nelson
Nelson is a private irrigation dam located in Louviers, Colorado, along Rainbow Creek. Built in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 164 feet, providing storage for 22 acre-feet of water. With a primary purpose of irrigation, Nelson serves as a vital resource for water management in the region.
Despite its age, Nelson is in fair condition with a low hazard potential. Regular inspections have been conducted, with the last assessment in 2007 revealing a structurally sound dam. With a maximum discharge capacity of 177 cubic feet per second, Nelson plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage for agricultural purposes in Douglas County.
Given its significance in the local water resource infrastructure, Nelson stands as a testament to the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for effective water management. As climate change impacts become more pronounced, ensuring the safety and functionality of structures like Nelson will be essential in safeguarding water resources 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 Nelson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 21 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Waterton | 21 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 16 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At South Platte | 381 cfs | → |
| East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock | 9 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek Blw C-470 At Highlands Ranch | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson.
Boat launches
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Strortia Springs Reservoir
- Strontia Springs Reservoir
- Platte Canyon Ditch
- Chatfield Reservoir
- Chatfield Lake
- Redstone Park Pond
Paddle runs
- Wigman Club To Strontia Reservoir
- Cliffdale To Confluence With South Platte
- Foxton
- Cheeseman Dam To Wigman Club
- Estabrook To Cliffdale
- Idledale To Morrison
More reservoirs
Track Nelson 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 Nelson
Where does the data for Nelson 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 Nelson.