Rist - Benson dam
Rist - Benson
Rist-Benson is a privately owned irrigation dam located on the Big Thompson River in Larimer County, Colorado. Built in 1903 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam stands at 15 feet high and stretches 1495 feet in length. Its primary purpose is irrigation, with additional recreational benefits for the surrounding area. The dam has a storage capacity of 819 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3508 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Rist-Benson dam remains in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location and size. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and stability. In the event of an emergency, the dam has an established Emergency Action Plan to mitigate risks and protect downstream communities.
Located in the beautiful city of Loveland, Rist-Benson dam serves as a vital water resource for agricultural and recreational activities in the region. Its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts highlight the importance of proper water resource management 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 Rist - Benson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 82 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 20 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 289 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 273 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 112 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 89 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rist - Benson.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
- Flatiron Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Loveland Service Center Pond
- North Lake Park Pond
- Lake Loveland
- River`S Edge And Jayhawker Ponds
- Boedecker Reservoir
- Lon Hagler Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Rist - Benson 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 Rist - Benson
Where does the data for Rist - Benson 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 Rist - Benson.