Watson Lake dam
Watson Lake
Watson Lake, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a state-regulated Earth dam built in 1964 along the Cache La Poudre River. Serving primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, this reservoir boasts a capacity of 532 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 45 acres. With a maximum discharge of 39 cubic feet per second and no spillway, Watson Lake's hazard potential is categorized as low, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2020.
Despite its modest size, Watson Lake plays a crucial role in supporting local fish and wildlife populations while also providing recreational opportunities for visitors. Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this dam undergoes regular inspections and has a documented emergency action plan in place. With a risk assessment rating of 2 (considered high), efforts are continuously made to ensure the safety and integrity of this essential water resource.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Watson Lake stands as a testament to the delicate balance between human development and environmental conservation. As a key feature along the Cache La Poudre River, this Earth dam not only supports biodiversity but also serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between water management, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities in Colorado's diverse landscape.
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 Watson Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 417 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 237 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 226 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 8 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watson Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
- 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)
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Ansel Watrous Campground
- Ansel Watrous
- Stove Prairie Campground
- Stove Prairie
🎣 Fishing spots
- Watson Lake
- North Shields Ponds
- Mcmurry Ponds
- Ft. Collins City Park
- Sheldon Lake (City Park)
- Horsetooth Reservoir
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Watson 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 Watson Lake
Where does the data for Watson 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 Watson Lake.