Barr Lake dam
Barr Lake
Barr Lake in Colorado, nestled in Adams County, stands as a testament to water resource management and climate adaptation. This private irrigation reservoir, completed in 1893, boasts a dam height of 42 feet and a storage capacity of 47,000 acre-feet, primarily serving agricultural needs in the region. With a surface area of 1830 acres and a drainage area of 14 square miles, Barr Lake plays a vital role in water storage and conservation.
Despite its age, Barr Lake remains in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in October 2020, with a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 163 feet, adds to its impressive engineering. The reservoir's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and management to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing climate patterns.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate Barr Lake as a historic and essential component of Colorado's water infrastructure. With its strategic location, efficient design, and critical role in irrigation, Barr Lake embodies the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource management in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Barr Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Henderson | 178 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Mouth Near Fort Lupton | 14 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Fort Lupton | 119 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barr Lake.
Boat launches
- Adams County
- Brighton
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- St. Vrain State Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
Fishing spots
- Barr Lake
- Brighton City Park Lake
- Ken Mitchell Park Pond
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
- Marshall Reservoir
- Elaine T. Valente Open Space
Track Barr Lake 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 Barr Lake
Where does the data for Barr Lake 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 High 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 Barr Lake.