Windsor Lake
Windsor Lake is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Windsor Lake
The primary purpose of Windsor Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Kern Reservoir And Ditch Co (wagner, Dennis) (local government). It impounds the Cache La Poudre River-os near Windsor.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 2,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 197 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,990 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 11/09/2022.
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 | Weld |
| Nearest City | Windsor |
| River/Stream | Cache La Poudre River-os |
| Coordinates | 40.48077, -104.89490 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,990 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,990 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,008 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 197 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,276 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | KERN RESERVOIR AND DITCH CO (WAGNER, DENNIS) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00854 |
| Federal ID | CO00854 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |