East Lake #2 dam
East Lake #2
East Lake #2, located in Thornton, Colorado, is a significant Earth dam completed in 1889 for flood risk reduction along Brantner Gulch-TR. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 1400 feet, this dam provides a normal storage capacity of 94 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 176 acre-feet. The dam's hazard potential is rated as significant, but its condition assessment as of October 2018 was deemed satisfactory.
Managed by the local government, East Lake #2 is under state jurisdiction and regulation, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement responsibilities falling under the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR). The dam has no spillway and features uncontrolled outlet gates. Despite its high risk assessment, the dam has not been modified in recent years and its Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status is unclear, with the last revision dating back to 2007.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, East Lake #2 presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure and risk management. Its historical significance, location in a populated area, and the potential implications of its high-risk rating highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of critical water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 East Lake #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 0 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 178 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 144 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Lake #2.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- St. Vrain State Park
- Union Reservoir
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Boulder County Fairground
Fishing spots
- Hunters Glen Lake
- Thornton Rec Ctr Lake (Carpenter)
- Webster Lake
- Talbott Irrigation Reservoir
- Marshall Reservoir
- Grandview Ponds
Track East Lake #2 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 East Lake #2
Where does the data for East Lake #2 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 Significant 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 East Lake #2.