Watson Lake
Watson Lake is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1964. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Watson Lake
The primary purpose of Watson Lake is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Colorado Parks And Wildlife (state). It impounds the Cache La Poudre River near Laporte.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 4,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 532 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/05/2020.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Laporte |
| River/Stream | Cache La Poudre River |
| Coordinates | 40.63436, -105.16892 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 532 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 532 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Max Discharge | 39 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02065 |
| Federal ID | CO02065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |