OMAHA, NE - Cooler temperatures the past week have slowed the mountain snowmelt runoff into Bear Creek and Chatfield Reservoirs in the Denver area. However, pool elevations at Bear Creek and Chatfield Reservoirs are expected to rise as temperatures rebound and the mountain snowmelt runoff continues.
Since the beginning of May, Bear Creek and Chatfield Reservoirs have risen about 43 feet and 9.5 feet, respectively, due to inflow from rainfall runoff and mountain snowmelt runoff. Bear Creek Reservoir saw a peak pool elevation of 5602.8 feet on May 26, with 36.1 percent of the flood control pool occupied, and has since dropped to 5602.0 feet. Chatfield Reservoir saw a peak pool elevation of 5441.5 feet on May 27, with 7.6 percent of the flood control pool occupied, and has since dropped to 5441.1 feet.
At Chatfield Dam, the release was increased from 2400 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2600 cfs on Wednesday, May 27 to continue flood storage evacuation prior to additional mountain snowmelt runoff. At Bear Creek Dam the release was reduced to 230 cfs for 4 hours beginning at 9 a.m. (MDT) today to enable debris removal from a pipeline crossing Bear Creek near Sheridan, Colorado. The release will be increased back to 500 cfs by 1 p.m. today (MDT).
Bear Creek Reservoir is expected to begin rising again as mountain snowmelt runoff enters the reservoir. If a steady snowmelt runoff is experienced the peak pool is forecast to be 5606 feet, although if a more rapid snowmelt occurs the pool could rise to 5615 feet. The record pool at Bear Creek set in 2013 was 5607.8 feet. The reservoir is expected to stay in the flood pool for over a month as mountain snowmelt and rainfall runoff continue and stored flood water is evacuated.
Chatfield Reservoir could remain in the flood pool for the next several weeks as the mountain snowmelt runoff continues. Another peak pool is possible dependent on the speed of the snowmelt runoff. Cherry Creek Reservoir saw a peak pool elevation of 5553.8 feet on May 13, with 4.2 percent of the flood control pool occupied, and has since dropped to 5551.0 feet. Cherry Creek Dam is currently releasing 150 cfs and is expected to continue evacuating the flood storage over the next week.
The combined release from the Tri-Lakes Dams is at a rate of 3250 cubic feet per second. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in coordination with the State of Colorado continues to monitor downstream conditions and will adjust releases based on those conditions.
The three Denver-area dams operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District are referred to as the Tri-Lakes Projects are Chatfield, Cherry Creek, and Bear Creek Dams. The Tri-Lakes Dams are managed as a system to capture runoff and make releases to mitigate flooding risks in the Denver area. The Omaha District routinely conducts inspections and monitors all three projects as a part of its Dam Safety Program. Surveillance frequencies are increased during periods of higher pools. All three projects are performing satisfactorily with no significant dam safety issues resulting from the recent rains and snowmelt runoff.
Pool elevation graphs for the Tri-Lakes Dams can be found online at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/DamandLakeProjects/TriLakesProjects.aspx
Pool elevation data for these and other Corps-operated dams, updated hourly, can be tracked online at http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/plots/plots.html#omaha_plots.
Public safety is a priority and the public is urged to rely on local emergency management officials for guidance regarding the flood response.