Sunset Lake

ST VRAIN· Boulder, Colorado· Earth· 11 ft tall
Low Hazard Irrigation Fish And Wildlife Pond Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Sunset Lake is classified as low hazard in Colorado. Its primary use is irrigation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 11 ft (taller than 8.7% in CO)
Dam Length700 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage260 acre-ft
Normal Storage173 acre-ft
Surface Area16 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge1,200 cfs
NID IDCO03009

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: November 2, 2021
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: DWR

Ownership

BOULDER COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE (ALEXANDER, RO

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Mcintosh

Boulder, CO

Significant Hazard 17 ft

Oligarchy #1

Boulder, CO

Significant Hazard 29 ft

Independent

Boulder, CO

Low Hazard 12 ft

Longs Peak #1

Boulder, CO

Low Hazard 30 ft

Longs Peak #2

Boulder, CO

Low Hazard 41 ft

Clover Basin

Boulder, CO

High Hazard 34 ft

Mccall

Boulder, CO

High Hazard 14 ft

Golden Pond No. 3

Boulder, CO

Low Hazard 13 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Sunset Lake?

Sunset Lake is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Sunset Lake?

Sunset Lake is owned by BOULDER COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE (ALEXANDER, RO (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

What is the primary purpose of Sunset Lake?

Sunset Lake serves the following purposes: Irrigation, Fish And Wildlife Pond, Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Sunset Lake?

Sunset Lake has a dam height of 11 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Sunset Lake last inspected?

Sunset Lake was last inspected on November 2, 2021. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.