Divide dam
Divide
Divide, located in Boulder, Colorado, is a privately owned dam completed in 1879 primarily for irrigation purposes along the St. Vrain Creek. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 1850 feet, Divide has a storage capacity of 510 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 77 acres. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 13 feet, and it has a low hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment.
Managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Divide is subject to state regulations and inspections, ensuring its safe operation. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 and is located in Johnstown, Colorado, under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency. Despite being privately owned, Divide plays a significant role in water supply and irrigation within the region, highlighting the vital importance of proper dam maintenance and risk management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Divide -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 71 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 4 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 114 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Loveland | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Divide.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Brighton
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Adams County
Campgrounds
- Union Reservoir
- Boulder County Fairground
- St. Vrain State Park
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
- Meadow Park
- North Pine Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Main Section
- Gnar Section
More reservoirs
Track Divide 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 Divide
Where does the data for Divide 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 Low 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 Divide.