Flood Control Basin No. 1 dam
Flood Control Basin No. 1
Flood Control Basin No. 1, located in Larimer County, Colorado, is a critical infrastructure designed by URS CORPORATION to mitigate flood risks along Dry Creek. Completed in 2006, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet, with a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 16 feet. It has a storage capacity of 653 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 14,395 cubic feet per second, providing vital flood risk reduction benefits to the surrounding area.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 250 feet, ensuring efficient water management during times of high flow. Despite its high hazard potential, Flood Control Basin No. 1 has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of June 2019, with a moderate risk level. It is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its ongoing safety and effectiveness in protecting the community of Fort Collins from the impacts of flooding.
With its strategic location and design, Flood Control Basin No. 1 plays a crucial role in safeguarding local residents and infrastructure from the devastating effects of floods. As a key component of the flood risk reduction system in the region, this dam serves as a testament to proactive water resource management and climate resilience efforts, highlighting the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events on communities and ecosystems.
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 Flood Control Basin No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins | 365 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R A Mo Of Cn | 733 cfs | → |
| Cache La Poudre R Ab Boxelder C | 493 cfs | → |
| North Fork Cache La Poudre R. At Livermore | 10 cfs | → |
| Buckhorn Creek Near Masonville | 22 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 Flood Control Basin No. 1.
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)
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Pineview River Access Point (Put-In, Take-Out)
Campgrounds
- Inlet Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- South Bay - Horsetooth Reservoir
- Ansel Watrous Campground
- Ansel Watrous
- Stove Prairie Campground
- Stove Prairie
Fishing spots
- Douglas Reservoir
- North Shields Ponds
- Watson Lake
- Mcmurry Ponds
- Greenbriar Park Lake
- Sheldon Lake (City Park)
Paddle runs
Track Flood Control Basin No. 1 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 Flood Control Basin No. 1
Where does the data for Flood Control Basin No. 1 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 High 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 Flood Control Basin No. 1.