Donath Lake dam
Donath Lake
Donath Lake, also known as Louden Reservoir, is a private water resource located in Larimer County, Colorado. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this reservoir serves multiple purposes including irrigation, recreation, and water supply. Built in 1883, the earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet with a hydraulic height of 23 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1148 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 85 acres.
Situated on the Big Thompson River, Donath Lake plays a crucial role in the local water management system. With a spillway width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge of 380 cubic feet per second, the dam has been classified with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment level. Despite its age, the dam structure remains in satisfactory condition, as indicated by the last inspection conducted in July 2019. With state regulation, permitting, and enforcement in place, Donath Lake continues to be a vital resource for the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Donath Lake offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical development of irrigation infrastructure in Colorado. As a privately owned reservoir with a long-standing presence in the landscape, it serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between human needs and environmental stewardship. With its varied uses and significant storage capacity, Donath Lake highlights the importance of sustainable water 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 Donath Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 80 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 266 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 287 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 38 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 471 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donath Lake.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Filter Plant River Access Point (Put-In)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Take-Out #2)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
Campgrounds
- Boyd Lake State Park
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Missile Site Park
- Flatiron Reservoir
- Carter Lake - North Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Boyd Lake
- Portner Reservoir (Fossil Creek)
- Heinricy Lake
- Miramont Park (Ft. Collins)
- North Lake Park Pond
- Lake Loveland
Paddle runs
Track Donath 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 Donath Lake
Where does the data for Donath 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 Significant 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 Donath Lake.