North Poudre # 5
North Poudre # 5 is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About North Poudre # 5
The primary purpose of North Poudre # 5 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 Cache La Poudre River-tr near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 2,060 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 442 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,839 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1905, 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 09/02/2022.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Cache La Poudre River-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.68722, -105.03789 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,060 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,839 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,839 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,704 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 442 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | NORTH POUDRE IRR. CO. (MOEN, TAD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02018 |
| Federal ID | CO02018 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |