Rattlesnake Dam
Rattlesnake Dam is a rockfill dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rattlesnake Dam
The primary purpose of Rattlesnake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Rattlesnake Creek, Cottonwood Creek-tr near Loveland.
The dam stands 130 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 124 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,179 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/06/2021.
At 130 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 | Rattlesnake Creek, Cottonwood Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.36790, -105.28690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,179 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,179 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,181 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 124 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01663 |
| Federal ID | CO01663 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |