Baehr dam
Baehr
Baehr, also known as Pine or Bahr, is a privately owned dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado. Built in 1948, this earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a length of 1345 feet, serving primarily for irrigation purposes. With a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, Baehr dam is situated on the North Fork South Platte River, providing vital water resources for the surrounding area.
Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, Baehr dam poses a high risk due to its condition assessment not being rated and lacking updated emergency action plans. The last inspection conducted on the dam was in 1978, with an inspection frequency of 6 years. The dam's spillway type is listed as 'None', signaling potential safety concerns in the event of excess water flow.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Baehr dam represents a critical infrastructure in need of modernization and increased safety measures. With its strategic location on the North Fork South Platte River, the dam plays a crucial role in irrigation and recreation activities in the area. Continued monitoring and investment in this dam will be essential to ensure its resilience in the face of changing climate conditions and evolving water management needs.
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 Baehr -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At South Platte | 542 cfs | → |
| So. Platte R. Blw Brush Cr. Nr Trumbull Co | 311 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Cheesman Lake | 314 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Waterton | 35 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Above Cheesman Lake | 267 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baehr.
Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Tarryall Road Park County
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Pine Valley Ranch Pond
- Wellington Lake
- South Platte River
- Strontia Springs Reservoir
- Strortia Springs Reservoir
- Cheesman Reservoir
Track Baehr 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 Baehr
Where does the data for Baehr 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 Baehr.