Glacier Lake
Glacier Lake is an earth dam located in Boulder County, Colorado, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Glacier Lake
The primary purpose of Glacier Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Glacier Lake Homeowners Assoc. (peterson, Jess) (private). It impounds the Pennsylvania Gulch near Boulder.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 401 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 329 acre-feet. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/26/2022.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Boulder |
| Nearest City | Boulder |
| River/Stream | Pennsylvania Gulch |
| Coordinates | 40.02393, -105.49954 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 401 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 329 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 329 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 229 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Max Discharge | 353 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | GLACIER LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOC. (PETERSON, JESS) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00223 |
| Federal ID | CO00223 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |