Baseline - Northwest
Baseline - Northwest is an earth dam located in Boulder County, Colorado, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Baseline - Northwest
The primary purpose of Baseline - Northwest is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Baseline Land And Reservoir Company (short, Dougla (private). It impounds the South Boulder Creek-os near Boulder.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 2,650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 270 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 6,592 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 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 10/25/2022.
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 | South Boulder Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 40.00279, -105.20640 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,592 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,592 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 270 acres |
| Max Discharge | 822 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BASELINE LAND AND RESERVOIR COMPANY (SHORT, DOUGLA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02820 |
| Federal ID | CO02820 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |