Barnes Meadow dam
Barnes Meadow
Barnes Meadow is an irrigation dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, near the city of Fort Collins. Built in 1923, this earth dam stands at a height of 47 feet and has a hydraulic height of 50 feet, serving primarily for irrigation purposes. With a storage capacity of 3,005 acre-feet and a surface area of 108 acres, Barnes Meadow plays a crucial role in water supply management in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Barnes Meadow has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. The dam has a spillway width of 295 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 6,600 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, regular inspections are conducted to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure, with the last assessment performed in July 2020.
Situated along the Joe Wright Creek, Barnes Meadow is a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the area. With its historical significance and continued functionality, this dam serves as a critical asset for water supply and irrigation needs, showcasing the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate 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 Barnes Meadow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 30 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Above Joe Wright Reservoir | 3 cfs | → |
| Michigan River Near Cameron Pass | 7 cfs | → |
| Grand River Ditch At La Poudre Pass | 105 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 73 cfs | → |
| Colorado R Below Baker Gulch | 179 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barnes Meadow.
Boat launches
- Chambers Lake Boating Site
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 875, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
- Hilltop Boating Site
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Barnes Meadow Reservoir
- Chambers Lake
- Lost Lake (Cameron Pass)
- Laramie Lake
- Trap Lake
- Joe Wright Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Big South
- Spencer Heights
- Rustic (Upper)
- Headwaters To Fan Lake
- Headwaters To Ends 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of Fern Lake Road
- Begins 0.5 Miles Away From Trail Ridge Road To Ends Where River Segment Exits Rocky Mountain National Park
More reservoirs
Track Barnes Meadow 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 Barnes Meadow
Where does the data for Barnes Meadow 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 Barnes Meadow.