Terry Lake
Terry Lake is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1890. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Terry Lake
The primary purpose of Terry Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Larimer & Weld Reservoir Co. (kimberly Nelson) (private). It impounds the Dry Creek-tr near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 6,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,960 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1890, the structure is over a century 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 05/23/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.61703, -105.07625 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,960 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,345 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,780 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | LARIMER & WELD RESERVOIR CO. (KIMBERLY NELSON) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00850 |
| Federal ID | CO00850 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |