Rockwell dam
Rockwell
Rockwell, a privately owned dam located in Weld County, Colorado, serves primarily for irrigation purposes on the Big Hollow river. Built in 1885, this Earth-type dam stands at 16 feet high and 1100 feet long, with a storage capacity of 441 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, Rockwell has been deemed unsatisfactory in its condition assessment as of October 2016.
The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 24 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 1050 cubic feet per second. Although Rockwell has not been modified in recent years, it undergoes inspections every 6 years to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The risk assessment for Rockwell is considered moderate, with a rating of 3 out of 5, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rockwell presents a historical landmark in Colorado's irrigation infrastructure. Its location in the scenic city of Johnstown, along with its vital role in water management on the Big Hollow river, makes it a significant structure worth monitoring and preserving for future generations. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding and maintaining dams like Rockwell becomes increasingly crucial to ensure sustainable water usage and management 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 Rockwell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 71 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 103 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 4 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rockwell.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
- Union Reservoir
- St. Vrain State Park
- Boulder County Fairground
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
- Boyd Lake State Park
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
- Mead Ponds
- Roberts Lake
- Johnstown Reservoir
- Union Reservoir
- Lonetree Reservoir
- St. Vrain State Park (Barbour Ponds)
Paddle runs
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Main Section
- Gnar Section
- Lower Boulder Canyon
More reservoirs
Track Rockwell 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 Rockwell
Where does the data for Rockwell 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 Rockwell.