Left Hand Park dam
Left Hand Park
Left Hand Park, located in Boulder, Colorado, along Left Hand Creek, is a privately owned irrigation dam constructed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS. The dam stands at 65 feet tall, with a hydraulic height of 50 feet and a length of 1325 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2075 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for irrigation, with additional uses including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond support.
The dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in October 2020. It is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement activities overseen by state agencies. Left Hand Park Dam poses a moderate risk level, with emergency action plans in place to address any potential safety concerns.
Left Hand Park Dam is a significant water resource infrastructure in the area, serving multiple purposes while also posing potential risks that are actively managed. Its location along Left Hand Creek and its role in irrigation highlight its importance in the local water supply system. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering behind the dam's design and operations, as well as the ongoing efforts to ensure its safe and efficient functioning within the regulatory framework.
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 Left Hand Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South St. Vrain Creek Near Ward | 50 cfs | → |
| Middle Boulder Creek At Nederland | 122 cfs | → |
| Cabin Creek Near Fraser | 10 cfs | → |
| Moffat Water Tunnel At East Portal | 249 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 2 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Orodell | 65 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Left Hand Park.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
- Cr 6 Grand County
- Grand County
- Hilltop Boating Site
- Us 34 Grand County
Fishing spots
- Left Hand Reservoir - Ipwa
- Brainard Lake - Ipwa
- Moraine Lake - Ipwa
- Red Rock Lake - Ipwa
- Long Lake - Ipwa
- Mitchell Lakes - Ipwa
Track Left Hand Park 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 Left Hand Park
Where does the data for Left Hand Park 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 Left Hand Park.