Rist Canyon dam
Rist Canyon
Rist Canyon is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Larimer County, Colorado. Completed in 1882, this Earth-type dam stands at 12 feet tall and spans 800 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet. Situated on the Rist Canyon stream, the dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area, with a normal storage capacity of 57 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 6 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential, Rist Canyon dam has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition, with the last inspection conducted in October 2013. The risk assessment for the dam is categorized as moderate, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. With state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, the dam is subject to oversight by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR), ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rist Canyon presents an intriguing case study of an older irrigation dam with historical significance in Colorado. With its Earth-type construction, moderate risk assessment, and unsatisfactory condition, the dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing maintenance challenges faced by aging infrastructure in the region. As efforts are made to address the structural concerns and ensure the safety of the dam, the story of Rist Canyon continues to unfold, reflecting the intersection of water management, engineering, and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving 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 Rist Canyon -- 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 | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 8 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 226 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 21 cfs | → |
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rist Canyon.
⚓ 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
- Horsetooth Reservoir
- Seaman Reservoir
- Mcmurry Ponds
- Ft. Collins City Park
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Rist Canyon 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 Rist Canyon
Where does the data for Rist Canyon 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 Rist Canyon.