Hayden dam
Hayden
Hayden, located in Boulder, Colorado, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of irrigation. Built in 1905, this Earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and has a length of 1820 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 765 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Boulder Creek-OS and serves as a crucial water resource for the region, with a normal storage capacity of 502 acre-feet.
Despite its age, Hayden has undergone modifications in 1931 and 1974 to enhance its foundation, hydraulic, mechanical, and structural components. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 220 feet and is equipped with one slide (sluice gate) outlet gate. Inspected most recently in October 2020, Hayden has been deemed to have a high hazard potential but is in satisfactory condition, meeting regulatory standards set by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
Hayden's risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level (3) and the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in 2015. With a captivating history and significant role in irrigation and recreation activities, Hayden stands as a key infrastructure in the water resource management of Boulder, Colorado, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Water Resources.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Hayden -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 37 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 2 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Orodell | 63 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 36 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hayden.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Brighton
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Cottonwood Lake (Pearl Parkway Boulder)
- Koa Lake
- Sawhill Ponds #10
- Sawhill Ponds #8
- Walden Ponds - Ricky Weiser Wetland
- Sawhill Ponds #5
Track Hayden in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Hayden
Where does the data for Hayden come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Hayden.