B.L. Swift dam
B.L. Swift
B.L. Swift is a privately owned earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Gilcrest. Completed in 1890, this irrigation dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 820 feet, providing a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet. The primary purpose of B.L. Swift is to support irrigation activities in the region, utilizing water from the St Vrain Creek-TR.
Despite its age, B.L. Swift has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition. The last inspection of the dam took place in January 1989, with a recommended inspection frequency of six years. The risk assessment for the dam indicates a high risk level (2), suggesting the need for potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure for continued irrigation operations.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, B.L. Swift presents a historical glimpse into Colorado's irrigation infrastructure, showcasing the importance of dams in supporting agriculture in the region. With its unique design and purpose, this earth dam serves as a vital component of the local water management system, highlighting the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource utilization in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 B.L. Swift -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Vrain Creek At Mouth | 181 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 181 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 44 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Fort Lupton | 201 cfs | → |
| Big Thompson River At Mouth | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near B.L. Swift.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Boat Ramp Larimer County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
Campgrounds
- St. Vrain State Park
- Union Reservoir
- Boulder County Fairground
- Missile Site Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Ehrlich Lake
- Mead Ponds
- St. Vrain State Park (Barbour Ponds)
- Johnstown Reservoir
- Union Reservoir
- Milavec Reservoir
Track B.L. Swift 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 B.L. Swift
Where does the data for B.L. Swift 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 B.L. Swift.