Pavel #4 dam
Pavel #4
Pavel #4 is a state-owned dam in Larimer, Colorado, with a primary purpose of water supply. Completed in 1969, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a length of 217 feet. It has a storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 15 acre-feet. The dam is located on the MANHATAN-TR stream, 2 miles from ELKHORN, and is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, an inspection in 2013 found the condition of Pavel #4 to be unsatisfactory. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 59 feet, and it poses a moderate risk level according to the risk assessment. The inspection frequency for Pavel #4 is every 6 years, with the last assessment conducted in September 2013. The dam is not owned or funded by any federal agency, and it does not have any associated structures or locks.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and condition of dams will find Pavel #4 an intriguing case study. With its historical significance and current risk assessment, this state-owned dam serves as a focal point for discussions on water supply infrastructure and regulatory oversight. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding the state of dams like Pavel #4 becomes increasingly crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of our water supply systems.
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 Pavel #4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Frk Cache La Poudre R Blw Halligan Res Nr V Dal | 60 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Glendevey | 84 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 2 cfs | → |
| Joe Wright Creek Below Joe Wright Reservoir | 38 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 774 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek At Colorado-Wyoming State Line | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pavel #4.
Boat launches
- Dowdy Drive 2, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 875, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 407, Larimer County
- Nowata Drive 597, Larimer County
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
- Bridges River Access Point (Put-In)
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Rustic (Upper)
- Pearl Creek To Junction Of Road West Of Creedmore Lakes In Sw 1/4 Sec 5, T10n, R73e
- Source In Se 1/4 Sec 25, T10n, R75w To End Of The Four-Wheel Drive Road East Of The Nf Poudre Campground (Nw 1/4 Of Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- End Of Four-Wheel Drive Road To Pearl Creek In Se 1/4 Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Upper Narrows
- Middle Narrows
More reservoirs
Track Pavel #4 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 Pavel #4
Where does the data for Pavel #4 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 Pavel #4.