Horseshoe Lake (South Dam) dam
Horseshoe Lake (South Dam)
Horseshoe Lake (South Dam) in Larimer, Colorado, is a significant earth dam completed in 1905 with a primary purpose of irrigation. Standing at 24 feet in height and stretching 1650 feet in length, this dam provides a storage capacity of 10,559 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 8,051 acre-feet. The dam also serves recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 650 acres for activities such as fishing and boating.
Managed by a private entity, Horseshoe Lake (South Dam) is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition and undergoes inspections every two years. The surrounding area, fed by the Big Thompson River, benefits from the controlled release of water through an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 1044 feet, minimizing the risk of flooding downstream.
With its historical significance dating back over a century, Horseshoe Lake (South Dam) stands as a vital infrastructure for water management and recreation in the Loveland area. As climate change impacts water resources, dams like Horseshoe Lake play a crucial role in providing irrigation water for agricultural purposes while also offering a recreational oasis for the community. Maintaining and monitoring this dam remains essential to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Horseshoe Lake (South Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 80 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 266 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 88 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horseshoe Lake (South Dam).
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Missile Site Park
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Horseshoe Lake (South 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 Horseshoe Lake (South Dam)
Where does the data for Horseshoe Lake (South 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 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 Horseshoe Lake (South Dam).