Bear Creek Dam, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, was completed in 1979 by the US Army Corps of Engineers with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Bear Creek. It is an earth dam with a height of 179 feet and a storage capacity of 75,000 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of flooding in the highly urbanized Denver metropolitan area and downstream communities, although it alone cannot eliminate the possibility of flooding.

USACE categorizes the risk associated with Bear Creek Dam as "moderate" due to the potential consequences to downstream communities in the event of a breach. The dam safety program includes ongoing actions to monitor and maintain the dam, as well as risk reduction measures such as improving runoff forecast models and increasing public awareness of flood risks. Communities downstream are encouraged to stay informed about potential flood impacts and have emergency plans in place to mitigate individual risks. For more information on the USACE Dam Safety Program and risk assessments, visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Dam-Safety-Program.