Willow Lake is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1957. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 320 ft long, taller than 50% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Willow Lake
The primary purpose of Willow Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Elk Meadows HOA (private). It impounds the W. Fork of L. Thompson R near Pinewood Springs.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 09/24/2019.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Pinewood Springs |
| River/Stream | W. Fork of L. Thompson R |
| Coordinates | 40.26390, -105.42834 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,750 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Big Elk Meadows HOA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02727 |
| Federal ID | CO02727 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |