Barnes Meadow
Barnes Meadow is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Barnes Meadow
The primary purpose of Barnes Meadow is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Greeley Dept. Of Water Resources (gustafso (local government). It impounds the Joe Wright Creek-tr near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 108 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,005 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1923, 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 06/27/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Joe Wright Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.60000, -105.83557 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,005 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,005 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,329 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 108 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| 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 | CO00123 |
| Federal ID | CO00123 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |