Clarks Lake
Clarks Lake is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Clarks Lake
The primary purpose of Clarks Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by North Poudre Irr. Co. (moen, Tad) (private). It impounds the North Fork Poudre near Wellington.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 2,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,985 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1904, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 08/18/2022.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Wellington |
| River/Stream | North Fork Poudre |
| Coordinates | 40.73667, -104.98223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,985 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,985 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 874 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,421 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | NORTH POUDRE IRR. CO. (MOEN, TAD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01159 |
| Federal ID | CO01159 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |