Panama No. 1 - Northwest dam
Panama No. 1 - Northwest
Panama No. 1 - Northwest, also known as Baller Lake or Swede Lake, is a private dam located in Boulder, Colorado. Built in 1904 for irrigation purposes, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 7 feet and stretches 1900 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 6979 acre-feet and a surface area of 370 acres, Panama No. 1 - Northwest plays a crucial role in water management in the region.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this dam on Boulder Creek-OS is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of 2015, the dam is subject to moderate risk due to its age and the surrounding environment. With a maximum discharge of 4150 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway, Panama No. 1 - Northwest is a key structure in the water resource infrastructure of Colorado.
As a significant part of the water supply and irrigation system in the area, Panama No. 1 - Northwest not only serves practical purposes but also offers opportunities for recreation. With its historic background dating back over a century, this dam continues to be a vital component in managing water resources and adapting to the changing climate conditions in the region.
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 Panama No. 1 - Northwest -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 4 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 32 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 138 cfs | → |
| St Vrain Cr Blw Boulder Cr At Hwy 119 Nr Longmont | 165 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Panama No. 1 - Northwest.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Brighton
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Cattail Pond At Boulder County Fairgrounds
- Izaak Walton Pond
- Rogers Grove - Fairgrounds Lake
- Thomas Reservoir
- Teller Lake No. 5
- Golden Ponds
Track Panama No. 1 - Northwest 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 Panama No. 1 - Northwest
Where does the data for Panama No. 1 - Northwest 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 Panama No. 1 - Northwest.