Northglenn Terminal dam
Northglenn Terminal
The Northglenn Terminal in Westminster, Colorado, is a vital water supply infrastructure owned by the local government and regulated by the state Department of Water Resources. Completed in 1981, this earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet, with a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 28 feet, providing a storage capacity of 147 acre-feet. Situated on the Big Dry Creek, this dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for the region, with a normal storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 389 cubic feet per second.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in November 2020, the Northglenn Terminal dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Adams County, Colorado. The spillway, with a width of 29 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam has a surface area of 9 acres. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and has appropriate emergency action plans in place. Overall, the Northglenn Terminal serves as a key infrastructure for water resource management in the area, supporting both local communities and the environment.
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 Northglenn Terminal -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 5 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 83 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 185 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Northglenn Terminal.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Brighton
- Adams County
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Camp Patiya
- St. Vrain State Park
- Boulder County Fairground
Fishing spots
- Croke Reservoir
- Community College Pond
- Webster Lake
- Civic Center Park Lake (Thornton)
- Lambertson Lake
- Westminster City Park Pond
Paddle runs
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Northglenn Terminal 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 Northglenn Terminal
Where does the data for Northglenn Terminal 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 Northglenn Terminal.