George Rist dam
George Rist
George Rist, also known as Buckingham Lake, is a significant earth dam located in Larimer, Colorado, primarily used for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1973, this dam has a height of 17 feet and a storage capacity of 561 acre-feet, with a surface area of 44 acres. The dam is situated on the Big Thompson River-TR, under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of Water Resources.
The dam has a spillway type of uncontrolled with a width of 15 feet and a maximum discharge of 31 cubic feet per second. It has undergone modifications in 2001 for both hydraulic and structural improvements. The hazard potential of George Rist is deemed significant, with a condition assessment reported as satisfactory during the last inspection in July 2019. While the risk assessment is categorized as moderate, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place as of the latest data update in March 2021.
With its rich history and vital role in local irrigation, George Rist stands as a noteworthy water resource structure in the region. Its design by SMITH GEOTECHNICAL and unknown designers showcases the collaborative effort in ensuring water management and safety. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dams like George Rist provides a deeper appreciation for the crucial role they play in sustaining communities and ecosystems in Colorado.
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 George Rist -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 63 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 23 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 201 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 56 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 212 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near George Rist.
⚓ Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
⛺ Campgrounds
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
- Flatiron Reservoir
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
- Pinewood Reservoir
🎣 Fishing spots
- Boedecker Reservoir
- Loveland Service Center Pond
- Lon Hagler Reservoir
- River`S Edge And Jayhawker Ponds
- North Lake Park Pond
- Lake Loveland
🛶 Paddle runs
- Main Section
- Gnar Section
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- October Hole
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Filter Plant
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track George Rist 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 George Rist
Where does the data for George Rist 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 George Rist.