Barnum Park Lake dam
Barnum Park Lake
Barnum Park Lake, located in Denver, Colorado, is a crucial water resource managed by the local government for flood risk reduction and recreational purposes. Built in 1956, this Earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and spans a length of 1020 feet, with a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet. The lake sits on Weir Gulch, with a drainage area of 8 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 2810 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential and high risk assessment rating, Barnum Park Lake's condition assessment remains unrated, with the last inspection conducted in 1998 on a biennial basis. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in 1993, highlighting the need for updated emergency preparedness measures. While the lake does not have a spillway, its strategic location and vital role in flood risk management make it a significant asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 Barnum Park Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek At Denver | 41 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 99 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 24 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 15 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Colorado Blvd. | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barnum Park Lake.
Boat launches
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Standley Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Idledale To Morrison
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Upper Clear Creek
- Foxton
- Wigman Club To Strontia Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Barnum Park 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 Barnum Park Lake
Where does the data for Barnum Park 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 Barnum Park Lake.