Monument Lake dam
Monument Lake
Monument Lake, located in Las Animas, Colorado, is a picturesque water resource managed by the local government for multiple purposes including fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and water supply. The primary dam type is earth, with a height of 24 feet and a hydraulic height of 27 feet, completed in 1935. The lake has a storage capacity of 1,841 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 1,511 acre-feet and a surface area of 87 acres.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Monument Lake is subject to regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 8 feet, and the maximum discharge is 128 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk level, the lake serves as a vital water supply source for the surrounding area and offers opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Monument Lake for its historical significance, sustainable management practices, and ecological importance as a habitat for fish and wildlife. The lake's location in Monument Park, along Cherry Creek, provides a tranquil setting for visitors to enjoy nature while also serving as a vital water source for the community. As climate change impacts water resources, the management and conservation efforts at Monument Lake become increasingly crucial in ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Monument Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cucharas River At Boyd Ranch | 5 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Turners Ranch | 6 cfs | → |
| Culebra Creek At San Luis | 51 cfs | → |
| Trinchera C Ab Mtn Home Re | 3 cfs | → |
| Purgatoire River At Madrid | 9 cfs | → |
| Costilla Creek Above Costilla Dam | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Monument Lake.
Campgrounds
- Monument Lake Park
- Purgatoire
- Purgatoire Campground
- Blue Lake
- Bear Lake
- Cordova Pass Picnic Area And Campground
Fishing spots
- Monument Reservoir (Trinidad)
- North Lake
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir
- Daigre And Wahatoya Lake
- Sanchez Reservoir
- Mountain Home Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Costilla Creek
- Nf Boundary To Above Mccrystal Campground
- Headwaters To Comanche Point
- Nf Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Comanche Creek
More reservoirs
Track Monument 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 Monument Lake
Where does the data for Monument 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 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 Monument Lake.