Meadow Lake dam
Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of recreation. This Earth-type dam was completed in 1957 and stands at a height of 37 feet, with a normal storage capacity of 32 acre-feet. The reservoir has a surface area of 7 acres and is fed by the West Fork Little Thompson River.
Despite its low hazard potential, Meadow Lake has an unsatisfactory condition assessment as of January 2014, indicating a need for maintenance and improvements. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, suggesting that there are potential risks that need to be addressed. With a history dating back to the mid-20th century, Meadow Lake serves as a crucial water resource for recreational activities in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Meadow Lake an intriguing site to explore, with its unique design and historical significance. As a privately owned dam regulated by the State of Colorado, Meadow Lake presents an opportunity for ongoing monitoring and management to ensure its safety and longevity for future generations to enjoy.
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 Meadow Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 89 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 36 cfs | → |
| South St. Vrain Creek Near Ward | 37 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 2 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meadow Lake.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
- Hilltop Boating Site
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Grand County
Campgrounds
- Hermit Park Open Space
- Meeker Park Overflow Campground
- Meeker Park Overflow
- Olive Ridge Campground
- Olive Ridge
- Meadow Mountain Ranch
Fishing spots
- Ralph Price Reservoir (Button Rock)
- South Saint Vrain Fishing Site #2
- Copeland Lake - Rmnp
- South Saint Vrain Fishing Site #5
- South Saint Vrain Fishing Site #4
- Lily Lake - Rmnp
Track Meadow 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 Meadow Lake
Where does the data for Meadow 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 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 Meadow Lake.