Worster dam
Worster
Worster, also known as Eaton, is a private dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Fort Collins. Built in 1911, Worster serves primarily for irrigation purposes along the Sheep Creek river. The dam stands at a height of 72 feet with a hydraulic height of 68 feet and a structural height of 78 feet, providing a storage capacity of 4018 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 3750 acre-feet.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019, Worster is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and is subject to regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 95 feet, and a maximum discharge capacity of 192 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Worster's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, with a DSAC assignment date yet to be determined, and no specific risk management measures outlined.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Worster an intriguing structure due to its historical significance, location in a scenic area, and the vital role it plays in supporting agricultural activities through irrigation. As a privately owned dam with state regulation and oversight, Worster serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam maintenance and management to ensure public safety and the sustainable use of water resources 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 Worster -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sand Creek At Colorado-Wyoming State Line | 3 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 73 cfs | → |
| Laramie R Bl Pioneer Canal Nr Woods Landing | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Pioneer Canal Near Woods | 174 cfs | → |
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 1 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Worster.
Boat launches
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 875, Larimer County
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
- Albany County
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- North Fork Poudre
- North Fork Poudre Campground
- Dowdy Lake Campground
- Bellaire Lake Campground
- Bellaire Lake
- West Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- End Of Four-Wheel Drive Road To Pearl Creek In Se 1/4 Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Pearl Creek To Junction Of Road West Of Creedmore Lakes In Sw 1/4 Sec 5, T10n, R73e
- 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
- Upper North Fork
- Intermittent Stream To Junction With Co Division Of Wildlife Angler Access Trail In Sw 1/4 Sec 22, T11n, R72w
More reservoirs
Track Worster 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 Worster
Where does the data for Worster 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 Worster.