Davis No. 1

Davis No. 1 is an earth dam located in Boulder County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Davis No. 1

The primary purpose of Davis No. 1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Boulder & Lefthand Irrigation Company (juhl, Bob) (private). It impounds the Dry Creek-os near Boulder.

The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 3,263 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 189 acre-feet. Completed in 1910, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/22/2022.

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.

High HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateColorado
CountyBoulder
Nearest CityBoulder
River/StreamDry Creek-os
Coordinates40.06358, -105.19814

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height13 ft
Dam Height10 ft
Dam Length3,263 ft
Year Completed1910 (116 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage189 acre-ft
Max Storage189 acre-ft
Normal Storage138 acre-ft
Surface Area17 acres
Max Discharge84 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerBOULDER & LEFTHAND IRRIGATION COMPANY (JUHL, BOB)
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection11/22/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDCO01221
Federal IDCO01221
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams