Baseline - East 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.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 2,300 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Baseline - East
The primary purpose of Baseline - East is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Asquith, Melanie (private). It impounds the Dry Creek near Boulder.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 2,300 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.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.99857, -105.19847 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,300 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 | Asquith, Melanie |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00214 |
| Federal ID | CO00214 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |