North Poudre # 3 dam
North Poudre # 3
North Poudre # 3 is a privately owned Earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Wellington. Completed in 1980, this irrigation dam stands at a height of 39 feet and spans a length of 1600 feet, with a storage capacity of 4225 acre-feet. The dam holds back water from the Boxelder Creek-TR, with a maximum discharge capacity of 9000 cfs.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2020, North Poudre # 3 is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement measures to maintain its integrity and safety. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 300 feet, and it is designed to serve the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area.
Despite being designated as a moderate risk (level 3) structure, North Poudre # 3 operates within established guidelines and meets regulatory requirements. This dam plays a crucial role in water management and agricultural irrigation in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource 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 North Poudre # 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 273 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 604 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 6 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 289 cfs | → |
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 1 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Poudre # 3.
Boat launches
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
Campgrounds
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Ansel Watrous Campground
- Ansel Watrous
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Stove Prairie Campground
- Stove Prairie
Fishing spots
- Smith Lake (Lar. Cty.) (Boxelder #3)
- Douglas Reservoir
- Greenbriar Park Lake
- North Shields Ponds
- Mcmurry Ponds
- Watson Lake
Paddle runs
Track North Poudre # 3 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 North Poudre # 3
Where does the data for North Poudre # 3 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 North Poudre # 3.