South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam dam
South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam
The South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam, located in Eldorado Springs, Colorado, is a crucial structure designed for water supply purposes along the South Boulder Creek. Completed in 1936, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 34 feet and has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge of 3850 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 50 feet, the dam serves as a vital component in managing water resources in the region, ensuring a reliable water supply for the surrounding areas.
Owned by a public utility and regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in 2013. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a key role in water management, with a moderate risk rating indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. With its location in the picturesque Boulder County, the dam not only serves practical purposes but also adds to the natural beauty of the area, making it a significant structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and study.
As climate change impacts water resources worldwide, structures like the South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam become even more crucial in ensuring a sustainable water supply for communities. With its history dating back to the 1930s and its modern-day role in water management, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in adapting to and mitigating the effects of a changing climate. By understanding and appreciating the significance of such structures, water resource and climate enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the intersection of engineering, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in the face of a changing world.
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 South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| Boulder Creek Near Orodell | 65 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Orodell | 2 cfs | → |
| Middle Boulder Creek At Nederland | 122 cfs | → |
| Boulder Cr At North 75th St Nr Boulder | 53 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 104 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam.
Boat launches
- Miramonte Road Boulder County
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
Campgrounds
- Camp Patiya
- Rifleman Phillips Group Campground
- Aspen Meadow - Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Site 08
- Loop J 88-97
- Loop I 73-87
Fishing spots
- Viele Lake
- Thunderbird Lake
- Boulder Ponds
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Cottonwood Lake (Pearl Parkway Boulder)
- Maxwell Lake
Track South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam 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 South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam
Where does the data for South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam 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 South Boulder Diversion Intake Dam.