Mckay Lake - South dam
Mckay Lake - South
Located in Broomfield, Colorado, McKay Lake - South is a man-made reservoir primarily used for water supply and recreation purposes. Built in 1900, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and has a storage capacity of 445 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 67 acres and is fed by the Big Dry Creek-OS.
With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, McKay Lake - South is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Despite not having a current condition assessment rating, the dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 178 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 6,893 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate McKay Lake - South for its historical significance, engineering design, and importance in providing water supply to the surrounding area. Its recreational opportunities and scenic surroundings make it a valuable asset for the community of Westminster and a key feature in the local water management infrastructure. With proper maintenance and oversight, McKay Lake - South continues to serve its primary purpose while also offering recreational enjoyment for visitors.
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 Mckay Lake - South -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 41 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 11 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 99 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 325 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckay Lake - South.
Boat launches
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Brighton
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Adams County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Mckay Lake
- Tom Frost Reservoir
- Siena Reservoir
- Hunters Glen Lake
- Talbott Irrigation Reservoir
- Webster Lake
Track Mckay Lake - South 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 Mckay Lake - South
Where does the data for Mckay Lake - South 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 Mckay Lake - South.