Baird #1 dam
Baird #1
Baird #1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Franktown, Colorado, along the Russellville Gulch-OS river. Built in 1907 for irrigation purposes, this dam stands at 18 feet high and has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. With a normal storage of 60 acre-feet and a surface area of 15 acres, Baird #1 plays a crucial role in providing water for agricultural activities in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential, Baird #1 has been deemed to be in unsatisfactory condition as of the last inspection in 2013. The dam has a high risk assessment rating of 2, indicating the need for risk management measures to ensure its safety and functionality. With a history dating back over a century, Baird #1 serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to ensure the sustainable use of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to advocate for the preservation and management of essential water infrastructure, Baird #1 stands as a symbol of the intersection between human development and environmental stewardship. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a key example of the challenges and responsibilities associated with ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in Colorado and beyond.
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 Baird #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Near Franktown | 3 cfs | → |
| East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock | 8 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek Blw C-470 At Highlands Ranch | 1 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 6 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Waterton | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baird #1.
Boat launches
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Casey Jones Park
- Flat Rocks
- Indian Creek
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
Fishing spots
- Bingham Lake-Pinery Reservoir
- Pinery Reservoir
- Salisbury Park
- Aurora Reservoir
- Quincy Reservoir
- Cherry Knolls Pond
Track Baird #1 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 Baird #1
Where does the data for Baird #1 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 Baird #1.