Peterson Lake
Peterson Lake is a gravity dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Peterson Lake
The primary purpose of Peterson Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Greeley Dept. Of Water Resources (gustafso (local government). It impounds the Cache La Poudre River-tr near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 78 feet tall and stretches 231 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,409 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2022.
At 78 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Cache La Poudre River-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.56031, -105.79305 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 231 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,409 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,409 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,183 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,240 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF GREELEY DEPT. OF WATER RESOURCES (GUSTAFSO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00150 |
| Federal ID | CO00150 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |