DENVER -- Higher than normal flows of water from Cherry Creek Dam will begin Wednesday, May 21, 2025, as part of annual sediment flushing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District to help ensure proper operation of the dam’s outlet gates.
“These annual flushes keep the gates clear of sediment so the gates can operate reliably when needed to help reduce downstream flood risk to people and property in the Denver metropolitan area,” said Joe Maxwell, operations project manager for the USACE Tri-Lakes projects.
During normal operations, USACE generally releases less than 100 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) from the dam, Maxwell said. One cubic foot of water is equal to 7.5 gallons, about the volume of a beachball. During this flush, releases across the dam’s five main outlet gates will fluctuate between 0 cfs and 250 cfs between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The higher releases will take an estimated six hours to reach the Champa Street Bridge downstream of the dam. The releases from the dam will return to normal following the flush and conditions in the Champa Street Bridge area will return to normal in the evening. This plan is subject to change due to operational conditions.
In the interest of public safety, Maxwell emphasized the public should not attempt to cross or access Cherry Creek on May 21. Higher flush releases may cause minor flooding at low-level crossings or access points downstream of the dam, including bike paths.
USACE provided advance notice of the flush to local agencies with responsibility for public safety along the creek and to downstream property owners with known impacts.
USACE owns and operates Cherry Creek Dam located in Aurora, Colorado, south of Interstate 225 along with Chatfield and Bear Creek dams in the Denver metropolitan area. Collectively, the three dams reduce risks to the region from flooding. When not operating to reduce flood impacts, USACE manages water releases from the dams for recreation, water quality and to support fish and wildlife.
Release no. 25-011