Floodwater Ret. B-3
Floodwater Ret. B-3 is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Floodwater Ret. B-3
The primary purpose of Floodwater Ret. B-3 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by North Poudre Irr. Co. (moen, Tad) (private). It impounds the Coal Creek near Wellington.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 272 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,015 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 09/08/2022.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Wellington |
| River/Stream | Coal Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.80001, -104.99223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,015 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,015 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,839 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 272 acres |
| Drainage Area | 60 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NORTH POUDRE IRR. CO. (MOEN, TAD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00512 |
| Federal ID | CO00512 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |