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Releases from Colorado’s Tri-Lakes Dams impacted by recent rain

Published June 15, 2015
A round of storms Sept. 14, 2013, impacted the Cherry Creek basin causing pool elevations at Cherry Creek reservoir to enter the flood control pool. Cherry Creek peaked at a pool elevation of 5553.4 ft on Sept. 25, more than 12 feet below the record pool of 5565.8 feet in 1973. Major transportation routes and a large population, which makes up the Denver metropolitan area are located downstream from Cherry Creek Dam.

A round of storms Sept. 14, 2013, impacted the Cherry Creek basin causing pool elevations at Cherry Creek reservoir to enter the flood control pool. Cherry Creek peaked at a pool elevation of 5553.4 ft on Sept. 25, more than 12 feet below the record pool of 5565.8 feet in 1973. Major transportation routes and a large population, which makes up the Denver metropolitan area are located downstream from Cherry Creek Dam.

Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir Project near Aurora, Colo.

Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir Project near Aurora, Colo.

Bear Creek Dam is located on the southwest edge of suburban Lakewood at the confluence of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek, construction of the dam was authorized in 1968 and was completed in 1982. Bear Creek Lake is less than 1 mile long and has an average depth of 48 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 236 square miles.

Bear Creek Dam is located on the southwest edge of suburban Lakewood at the confluence of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek, construction of the dam was authorized in 1968 and was completed in 1982. Bear Creek Lake is less than 1 mile long and has an average depth of 48 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 236 square miles.

Chatfield Lake lies on the South Platte River at its confluence with Plum Creek, near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains about 25 miles southwest of downtown Denver. The lake is 2 miles long and has an average depth of 47 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 3,018 square miles. The 1,479-surface-acre lake has a storage capacity of 27,046 acre-feet.

Chatfield Lake lies on the South Platte River at its confluence with Plum Creek, near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains about 25 miles southwest of downtown Denver. The lake is 2 miles long and has an average depth of 47 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 3,018 square miles. The 1,479-surface-acre lake has a storage capacity of 27,046 acre-feet.

Chatfield Dam was the second of three dams built to reduce flooding risks in the Denver area. Located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, construction of the dam was begun in 1967 and was completed in 1975. The dam measures approximately 13,136 feet in length with a maximum height of 147 feet from the streambed to the top of the dam.

Chatfield Dam was the second of three dams built to reduce flooding risks in the Denver area. Located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, construction of the dam was begun in 1967 and was completed in 1975. The dam measures approximately 13,136 feet in length with a maximum height of 147 feet from the streambed to the top of the dam.

Chatfield Dam was the second of three dams built to reduce flooding risks in the Denver area. Located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, construction of the dam was begun in 1967 and was completed in 1975.

Chatfield Dam was the second of three dams built to reduce flooding risks in the Denver area. Located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, construction of the dam was begun in 1967 and was completed in 1975.

OMAHA, NE - Recent rainfall has kept local runoff downstream of the Tri-Lakes Dams high along the South Platte River and its contributing creeks downstream of Denver. Tributary flows have peaked after recent rainfall and are starting to recede. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District in coordination with the State of Colorado will hold releases at Bear Creek Dam to 500 cubic feet per second and at Cherry Creek Dam to 100 cfs. Releases from Chatfield dam will be increased today and again Tuesday. Releases were cut back last week to mitigate flood risk downstream from the dams. 

Chatfield Dam
This morning, June 15, Chatfield Reservoir’s pool elevation was 5445.8 feet with 11.7 percent of the flood control pool occupied. The average daily inflow on June 12 was 3870 cfs, surpassing the previous record daily inflow of 3394 cfs recorded in 1995. Inflows have dropped to 3000 cfs and are forecast to continue dropping. 

The release from Chatfield Dam will be increased from 1000 cfs to 1500 cfs this afternoon, then increased to 2000 cfs Tuesday morning followed by an increase to 2500 cfs Tuesday afternoon. Releases will be held at 2500 cfs provided the inflow continues to drop. The release at Chatfield Reservoir will remain high through the end of June.

Bear Creek Dam
This morning, Bear Creek Reservoir’s pool elevation was 5595.3 feet with 26.7 percent of the flood control pool occupied.  Inflows have dropped to 420 cfs and continue to slowly fall. The release from Bear Creek Dam is currently 500 cfs with no scheduled release changes at this time.

Cherry Creek Dam
This morning, Cherry Creek Reservoir’s pool elevation was 5555.2 feet with 5.9 percent of the flood control pool occupied. Inflows have dropped to 140 cfs. The release from Cherry Creek Dam is currently 100 cfs with no scheduled release changes at this time.

The combined releases from the Tri-Lakes Dams will be 2100 cfs this afternoon and will be increased to 3100 cfs Tuesday afternoon. Upstream and downstream conditions will continue to be monitored and releases will be adjusted as determined necessary.

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 USACE-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.


Contact
Kathryn Seefus
402-995-2309
kathryn.j.seefus@usace.army.mil
or
Eileen Williamson
402-995-2417
eileen.l.williamson@usace.army.mil

Release no. 20150615-003