Campus Master Plan

Varsity Lake and Bridge

In the 1880s, a dam was built across a campus ravine to form Varsity Lake—a practical feature as well as an aesthetic one. The lake was used in the early years for flood-irrigation and an ice house stood at the west end.

Shortly after the founding of Boulder in 1859, subscription ditch companies were formed to use water from mountain streams to irrigate farms to the east and the university was given water rights in Anderson Ditch.

In 1888, the regents authorized the building of a bridge between the President's House and Old Main, creating a direct route from the corner of Broadway and University Avenue into the heart of the campus nicknamed "Prexy's Walk." In 1935, the current campus-style bridge replaced its iron predecessor.

In 1991, a small pump station was built at the northwest end of the lake. Water flows from CU’s shares in Anderson Ditch, into the lake for holding, then to the pump house for distribution to the campus irrigation system. A computer controls the entire process.

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