Ladora dam
Ladora
Ladora, also known as Ladora Lake, is a Federal-owned water resource located in Commerce City, Colorado. Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this irrigation reservoir was completed in 1942 and serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife support, irrigation, and water supply. With a dam height of 23 feet and a storage capacity of 510 acre-feet, Ladora Lake covers a surface area of 48 acres and has a drainage area of 16 square miles.
The dam at Ladora is primarily an earth structure with a stone core foundation, standing at a structural height of 27 feet. It is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and inspected by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The reservoir has a spillway width of 100 feet and is equipped with uncontrolled vertical lift outlet gates. With a significant hazard potential, Ladora is subject to regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Ladora's location in Adams County, Colorado, makes it a vital resource for the surrounding communities, supporting agricultural activities and providing habitat for wildlife. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and upkeep of reservoirs like Ladora become increasingly important in ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ladora -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 90 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 167 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ladora.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Adams County
- Brighton
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Cherokee Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
Fishing spots
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal
- Engineers Lake
- Thornton Gravel Ponds #2 & #3
- Spratt-Platte Lake
- Elaine T. Valente Open Space
- Clear Creek Pond
Paddle runs
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Upper Clear Creek
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Ladora 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 Ladora
Where does the data for Ladora 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 Ladora.