East Lake #3 dam
East Lake #3
East Lake #3, located in Thornton, Colorado, is a local government-owned Earth dam completed in 1887 for irrigation purposes. With a height of 11 feet and a length of 2000 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 790 acre-feet and a surface area of 35 acres. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, East Lake #3 poses a moderate risk due to its moderate flood risk reduction capabilities and moderate drainage area. The spillway, which is uncontrolled and 179 feet wide, can handle a maximum discharge of 7894 cubic feet per second. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in 2013, with an inspection frequency of 6 years. While the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in 1998, East Lake #3 is equipped with emergency contacts and measures to manage risks in case of any potential incidents.
Overall, East Lake #3 serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in the region, showcasing the historical significance of irrigation practices dating back to the late 19th century. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like East Lake #3 play a crucial role in ensuring water security and disaster preparedness for the community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find East Lake #3 to be an intriguing example of sustainable water management in a changing environment.
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 #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Henderson | 404 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 2 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 25 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 142 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Lake #3.
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
- Boulder County Fairground
- Clear Creek Rv Park
Fishing spots
- Hunters Glen Lake
- Talbott Irrigation Reservoir
- Thornton Rec Ctr Lake (Carpenter)
- Marshall Reservoir
- Webster Lake
- Grandview Ponds
Track East Lake #3 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 #3
Where does the data for East Lake #3 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 East Lake #3.