Snake Lake dam
Snake Lake
Snake Lake, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a privately owned reservoir with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1906, this Earth-type dam stands at 7 feet tall and stretches 174 feet in length, providing storage capacity for 75 acre-feet of water. With a surface area of 10 acres and normal storage of 60 acre-feet, Snake Lake offers a tranquil setting for fishing, wildlife observation, and water supply for various activities.
Despite being a low-hazard dam with a satisfactory condition assessment, Snake Lake poses a high risk due to its location and potential impact on surrounding areas. The dam, which is state-regulated and inspected, does not have a spillway but maintains a spillway width of 2 feet to manage water discharge. While the last inspection was conducted in 2013, the dam is scheduled for regular assessments every six years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
As a vital part of the local ecosystem and recreational landscape, Snake Lake serves as a picturesque water resource for residents and visitors in Fort Collins. Water enthusiasts and climate advocates can appreciate the beauty and utility of this reservoir, which contributes to the conservation of wildlife, water supply, and outdoor recreation opportunities in the region.
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 Snake Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 1 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 64 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 5 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek At Colorado-Wyoming State Line | 3 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 499 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Snake Lake.
Boat launches
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 875, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Pearl Creek To Junction Of Road West Of Creedmore Lakes In Sw 1/4 Sec 5, T10n, R73e
- End Of Four-Wheel Drive Road To Pearl Creek In Se 1/4 Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Source In Se 1/4 Sec 25, T10n, R75w To End Of The Four-Wheel Drive Road East Of The Nf Poudre Campground (Nw 1/4 Of Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
- Rustic (Upper)
- Upper North Fork
More reservoirs
Track Snake Lake 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 Snake Lake
Where does the data for Snake Lake 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 Low 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 Snake Lake.