Silver Lake
Silver Lake is an earth dam located in Boulder County, Colorado, built in 1887. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Silver Lake
The primary purpose of Silver Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Boulder (clark, Kevin) (local government). It impounds the North Boulder Creek near Boulder.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 1,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 104 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,819 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1887, 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 08/31/2022.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | North Boulder Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.02822, -105.57736 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1887 (139 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,819 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,819 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,987 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF BOULDER (CLARK, KEVIN) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00249 |
| Federal ID | CO00249 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |