Superior dam
Superior
Superior, located in Boulder County, Colorado, is home to a significant water supply dam known as the Superior Dam on Coal Creek-OS. Completed in 1994, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 83 feet and has a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 400 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of water supply for the local community, making it a crucial infrastructure for ensuring water availability in the region.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2020, the Superior Dam is subject to regular inspection, enforcement, and permitting by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR). The dam's spillway, with a width of 2 feet, is uncontrolled, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 41 cubic feet per second. Despite its high risk potential, the dam's risk assessment is classified as moderate (3), indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
Overall, Superior Dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the area, providing essential water supply while also posing challenges in terms of safety and risk mitigation. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Superior will be crucial to ensure the resilience and sustainability of water systems in the face of evolving environmental 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 Superior -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 53 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Orodell | 65 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Superior.
Boat launches
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Tipi Village
- Standley Lake
- Camp Patiya
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Rifleman Phillips Group Campground
- Aspen Meadow - Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Fishing spots
- Louisville (Warembourg) Fishing Pond
- Harper Lake
- Loc Amora Pond (Josh`S Pond)
- Stearns Lake
- Boulder Ponds
- Waneka Lake
Track Superior 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 Superior
Where does the data for Superior 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 Superior.