Lily Lake Dam dam
Lily Lake Dam
Lily Lake Dam, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a federal-owned structure managed by the National Park Service for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Built in 1913, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 240 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 91 acre-feet. It is situated on Fish Creek and is not regulated by the state, with inspections carried out by the Bureau of Reclamation.
With a Hazard Potential rated as high and a Risk Assessment of moderate, Lily Lake Dam poses some safety concerns that are being monitored. Although the condition assessment is listed as not available, emergency action plans have been prepared and updated periodically to ensure preparedness in case of any unforeseen events. The dam also serves as a recreational area, highlighting the balance between conservation efforts and public enjoyment of the natural surroundings.
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 Lily Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South St. Vrain Creek Near Ward | 37 cfs | → |
| Grand Lake Outlet Blw Chipmunk Ln At Grand Lk | 35 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 89 cfs | → |
| Colorado R Below Baker Gulch | 150 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Bl Shadow Mountain Reservoir | 23 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lily Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
- Hilltop Boating Site
- Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
Campgrounds
- Moore Park
- Longs Peak - Rocky Mountain National Park
- Longs Peak Campground
- Wind River Bluff
- Marys Lake - Usbr
- Over The Hill
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of Fern Lake Road To Eastern Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115 To Eastern Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115
- Nsv
- Gnar Section
- Main Section
Track Lily Lake Dam 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 Lily Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lily Lake Dam 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 Lily Lake Dam.