Swede dam
Swede
Swede, also known as Swede Lake, is a local government-owned water resource located in Boulder, Colorado. This dam, completed in 1930 for irrigation purposes, stands at a height of 15 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 263 acre-feet. Situated on Dry Creek, Swede serves as a vital water source for the surrounding area, with a normal storage capacity of 205 acre-feet and a surface area of 26 acres.
With its primary purpose being irrigation, Swede Dam is primarily an earth dam with stone core types and a soil foundation. The dam has a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 15 feet, with a length of 1506 feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Swede Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR). In case of emergencies, the dam's risk assessment is moderate (3), indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures.
As a critical water infrastructure in the region, Swede's significance extends beyond its physical dimensions. Its role in supporting irrigation activities and water supply underscores the importance of proper maintenance and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety and reliability of this essential resource. With its historical legacy dating back to the early 20th century, Swede continues to play a crucial role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the Longmont area.
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 Swede -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Left Hand Creek At Hover Road Near Longmont | 1 cfs | → |
| Left Hand Creek Near Boulder | 50 cfs | → |
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 76 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek At Lyons | 106 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek At Mouth | 12 cfs | → |
| St. Vrain Creek Below Longmont | -999,999 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swede.
Boat launches
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Brighton
Campgrounds
- Boulder County Fairground
- Meadow Park
- Union Reservoir
- St. Vrain State Park
- Carter Lake - South Side Campgrounds
- Glacier View Ranch
Fishing spots
- Lagerman Reservoir
- Pella Crossing
- Golden Ponds
- Coot Lake
- Rogers Grove - Fairgrounds Lake
- Cattail Pond At Boulder County Fairgrounds
Paddle runs
- October Hole
- Black Bear Hole & A-Hole
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Ssv - Confluence To Picnic Grounds
- Nsv
- Begins 0.5 Miles Upstream From End Of County Hwy 115 To Eastern Boundary Of Rocky Mountain National Park
More reservoirs
Track Swede 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 Swede
Where does the data for Swede 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 Swede.