Bergen West dam
Bergen West
Bergen West, also known as Bergen #1, is a private dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, near the city of Lakewood. Built in 1888 for irrigation purposes on the Weaver Gulch river, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 505 acre-feet. With a surface area of 34 acres and a maximum discharge of 2110 cubic feet per second, Bergen West plays a significant role in water resource management in the region.
Despite being a privately owned structure, Bergen West is regulated and permitted by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with regular inspections ensuring its safe operation. The dam has a spillway width of 92 feet and is classified as having a significant hazard potential, although its overall condition is assessed as fair. In 2000, structural modifications were made to enhance the dam's safety and performance, reflecting a commitment to maintaining its integrity and functionality for the surrounding community.
With its historic significance and continued importance for irrigation and recreational purposes, Bergen West serves as a vital component of the local water infrastructure. As climate change impacts water resources, structures like Bergen West play a crucial role in managing and utilizing water sustainably, highlighting the intersection of water management and climate resilience in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Bergen West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 18 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 24 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 32 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Waterton | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bergen West.
⚓ Boat launches
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
⛺ Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Idylease Campground
- Chief Ouray Group Site
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Idledale To Morrison
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Foxton
- Wigman Club To Strontia Reservoir
- Cliffdale To Confluence With South Platte
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Bergen West in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Bergen West
Where does the data for Bergen West come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Bergen West.