Loveland Water Storage
Loveland Water Storage is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Loveland Water Storage
The primary purpose of Loveland Water Storage 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 Loveland (local government). It impounds the Big Thompson River-os near Loveland.
The dam stands 152 feet tall and stretches 1,748 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,696 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 10/07/2022.
At 152 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Loveland |
| River/Stream | Big Thompson River-os |
| Coordinates | 40.42976, -105.21142 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 152 ft |
| Dam Height | 112 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,748 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,696 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,696 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,836 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF LOVELAND |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00823 |
| Federal ID | CO00823 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |