Long Draw dam
Long Draw
Long Draw is a privately owned dam located in Larimer, Colorado, along the La Poudre Pass Creek. Built in 1975, this Earth type dam stands at a height of 84 feet and has a storage capacity of 14,200 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 10,900 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, providing water for agricultural activities in the area.
With a drainage area of 8 square miles and a maximum discharge of 3,400 cubic feet per second, Long Draw plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and reliability. The dam does not have a spillway, and its risk assessment indicates a high level of risk (2) associated with its operations.
Managed by the Colorado state regulatory agency, DWR, Long Draw undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to uphold safety standards. Located in a picturesque setting near Fort Collins, this dam not only provides essential water resources for irrigation but also poses a significant engineering challenge due to its high hazard potential. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Long Draw serves as a fascinating example of the intricate balance between harnessing water for human use and managing the associated risks in a changing climate.
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 Long Draw -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass | 105 cfs | → |
| Michigan River Near Cameron Pass | 7 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 30 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Above Joe Wright Reservoir | 3 cfs | → |
| Colorado R Below Baker Gulch | 179 cfs | → |
| Grand Lake Outlet Blw Chipmunk Ln At Grand Lk | 212 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Long Draw.
Boat launches
- Chambers Lake Boating Site
- Hilltop Boating Site
- Boat Launch Grand Lake
- Grand County
- Us 34 Grand County
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Long Draw #1 Fishing Site
- Long Draw #2 Fishing Site
- Long Draw #3 Fishing Site
- Trap Lake
- Mirror Lake - Rmnp
- Zimmerman Lake
Paddle runs
- Big South
- Headwaters To Fan Lake
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of Fern Lake Road
- Headwaters To Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Begins 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road To Ends Where River Segment Exits Rocky Mountain National Park
- Spencer Heights
More reservoirs
Track Long Draw 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 Long Draw
Where does the data for Long Draw 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 Long Draw.