Duke Lake dam
Duke Lake
Duke Lake, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of water supply. Completed in 1972, this Earth-type dam stands at 34 feet high and spans a length of 1024 feet, with a storage capacity of 375 acre-feet. The lake's normal storage capacity is 295 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 12 acres.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Duke Lake is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 29 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 820 cubic feet per second. The last inspection was conducted in September 2016, with an inspection frequency of every six years.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Duke Lake offers a fascinating example of a man-made structure playing a crucial role in water supply management. Its location along Clear Creek-OS, in the city of Wheatridge, provides a serene setting for studying the intersection of human engineering and natural water systems. With its moderate risk assessment and state-mandated oversight, Duke Lake showcases the importance of responsible dam operation and maintenance in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources 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 Duke Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek At Golden | 255 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 10 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 17 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 124 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Duke Lake.
Boat launches
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Rifleman Phillips Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Ward Road Pond
- Prospect Park Lakes (Wheatridge)
- Meadow Park Lake
- Arvada Reservoir
- Birdland Lake (Jack B. Tomlinson Park)
- Crown Hill Lake
Paddle runs
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper Clear Creek
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Duke Lake 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 Duke Lake
Where does the data for Duke Lake 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 Low 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 Duke Lake.