Chambers Lake
Chambers Lake is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Chambers Lake
The primary purpose of Chambers Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Water Supply & Storage Co. (frick, Donald) (private). It impounds the Joe Wright Creek near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 2,125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 281 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1924, 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 07/26/2022.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Joe Wright Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.60726, -105.84440 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,854 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 281 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 54,399 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WATER SUPPLY & STORAGE CO. (FRICK, DONALD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00127 |
| Federal ID | CO00127 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |