Oklahoma Lake dam
Oklahoma Lake
Located in Weld County, Colorado, Oklahoma Lake, also known as Big Cut Lateral, is a privately-owned reservoir used primarily for irrigation purposes. With a dam height of 18 feet and a capacity of 493 acre-feet, it serves as a vital water source for agricultural activities in the region. The lake was completed in 1891 and is regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, ensuring its proper maintenance and operation.
Aside from irrigation, Oklahoma Lake also offers recreational opportunities for the local community, covering a surface area of 40 acres and nestled along the Big Thompson River. Its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment make it a safe and reliable water resource for both irrigation and leisure activities. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has a maximum discharge capacity of 150 cubic feet per second.
Despite being a modest-sized reservoir, Oklahoma Lake plays a crucial role in supporting the agricultural sector in Weld County and contributes to the overall water management efforts in the region. With its historical significance dating back over a century, this reservoir continues to be a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable water use and management practices.
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 Oklahoma Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 272 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 103 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oklahoma Lake.
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
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Lake
Where does the data for Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Lake.