Olds dam
Olds
Olds is a privately owned earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Roggen. Built in 1918, this dam on the Lost Creek-OS river has a height of 23 feet and a length of 1100 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1700 acre-feet. With a surface area of 134 acres, the dam's primary purpose is categorized as "Other", serving various purposes beyond flood control or water supply.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Olds poses a moderate risk due to its age and the potential for various factors to impact its structural integrity. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 200 feet, and its last inspection took place in September 2019, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 6 years. With the dam located within the jurisdiction of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, it is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Olds presents an opportunity to study the management and maintenance of aging infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental conditions. Understanding the risk factors associated with dams like Olds is crucial for developing effective risk management measures and ensuring the long-term resilience of water infrastructure in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Olds will be essential in safeguarding communities and ecosystems downstream.
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 Olds -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Fort Lupton | 173 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Masters | 163 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Mouth Near Fort Lupton | 15 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 185 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Olds.
Fishing spots
- Banner Lakes Swa
- Hudson Fishing Pond
- Barr Lake
- Brighton City Park Lake
- Ken Mitchell Park Pond
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
Paddle runs
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
More reservoirs
Track Olds 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 Olds
Where does the data for Olds 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 Olds.