Cornish Plains Reservoir dam
Cornish Plains Reservoir
Cornish Plains Reservoir, located in Weld County, Colorado, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 2007 for the primary purpose of irrigation. Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 4,870 acre-feet and a surface area of 308 acres. It is situated on the Crow Creek-TR stream and has a significant hazard potential due to its size and location.
The dam stands at a height of 21 feet and has a spillway width of 66 feet, ensuring controlled water release during periods of excess inflow. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in August 2020. With a drainage area of 2 square miles, the reservoir plays a crucial role in providing water for irrigation in the surrounding agricultural areas. The overall risk assessment for Cornish Plains Reservoir is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Overall, Cornish Plains Reservoir is a vital water resource for the Barnesville community, serving as a key source of irrigation water for local farms and agricultural activities. With its earth dam structure and controlled spillway, the reservoir provides essential water storage capacity while managing flood risks effectively. As a significant component of the local water infrastructure, ongoing inspections and risk management measures are essential to ensure the safety and reliability of this essential water resource in Colorado's agricultural heartland.
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 Cornish Plains Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River Near Kersey | 362 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River Near Greeley | 55 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Masters | 469 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 74 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 181 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 285 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cornish Plains Reservoir.
Campgrounds
- Crow Valley
- Crow Valley Family Campground
- Crow Valley Group Campground
- Jackson Lake State Park
- Missile Site Park
Fishing spots
- Cache La Poudre Reservoir Inlet
- Poudre Ponds
- Allen Park Lake
- Promontory Point Park Ponds
- Windsor Lake
- Ehrlich Lake
Paddle runs
Track Cornish Plains Reservoir 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 Cornish Plains Reservoir
Where does the data for Cornish Plains Reservoir 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 Cornish Plains Reservoir.