Dodd dam
Dodd
Dodd, a private dam located in Niwot, Colorado, serves primarily for irrigation purposes along the Left Hand Creek-OS. Built in 1875, this Earth-type dam stands at 12 feet tall with a length of 789 feet, providing a storage capacity of 244 acre-feet. With a surface area of 28 acres, Dodd has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in June 2016. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in supporting agriculture in the region while also offering recreational opportunities.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Dodd is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's spillway, classified as uncontrolled, has a width of 1 foot and a maximum discharge capacity of 100 cubic feet per second. Although Dodd has not undergone significant modifications over the years, its risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. With its historical significance and continued relevance in water resource management, Dodd stands as a testament to the enduring impact of infrastructure on local communities and ecosystems.
As climate change poses new challenges to water resource management, Dodd's role in sustaining irrigation practices and recreational activities takes on added significance. With its location in Boulder County and the oversight of the state regulatory agency, DWR, Dodd represents a blend of historical relevance and contemporary water management practices. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, understanding the intricacies of dams like Dodd is essential in promoting sustainable water use and environmental stewardship in a changing climate landscape.
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 Dodd -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 104 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 45 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 248 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 4 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dodd.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Brighton
Campgrounds
- Boulder County Fairground
- Union Reservoir
- Meadow Park
- St. Vrain State Park
- Camp Patiya
- Glacier View Ranch
Fishing spots
- Coot Lake
- Lagerman Reservoir
- Boulder Reservoir
- Walden Ponds - Bass Pond
- Walden Ponds - Ricky Weiser Wetland
- Walden Ponds
Paddle runs
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Nsv
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Dodd 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 Dodd
Where does the data for Dodd 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 Dodd.