Henry's Lake dam
Henry's Lake
Henry's Lake, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a captivating water resource that serves primarily for recreational purposes. The lake, completed in 1972, boasts an earth dam standing at 12 feet tall with a length of 1380 feet, offering a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet. With a surface area of 25 acres and a maximum discharge of 950 cubic feet per second, Henry's Lake provides a picturesque setting for water and climate enthusiasts alike.
Managed by the Department of Water Resources in Colorado, Henry's Lake is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure safety and compliance with state standards. The dam has a low hazard potential and is in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2015. Despite the moderate risk assessment, the lake remains a popular destination for outdoor activities, attracting visitors to its tranquil waters and scenic surroundings. With its uncontrolled spillway and unique location near Bear Creek, Henry's Lake offers a peaceful retreat for nature lovers seeking to connect with Colorado's diverse landscape.
The surrounding area of Henry's Lake, situated in the city of Lakewood, is overseen by federal agencies and enjoys support for its maintenance and operations. Despite its modest drainage area and recreational focus, the lake remains an integral part of the local ecosystem, providing a source of enjoyment and relaxation for residents and visitors alike. As climate and water resource enthusiasts explore the region, Henry's Lake stands as a testament to the harmonious balance between human recreation and environmental stewardship in the heart of Colorado's natural beauty.
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 Henry's Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 18 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 34 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 4 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 65 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 22 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Henry's Lake.
Boat launches
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
Fishing spots
Track Henry's 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 Henry's Lake
Where does the data for Henry's 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 Henry's Lake.