Evergreen dam
Evergreen
Evergreen is a historic earth dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, along Bear Creek. Built in 1927, this dam serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and a normal storage of 669 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 41 feet, with a hydraulic height of 50 feet and a structural height of 47 feet. Its spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 196 feet, and the dam has a drainage area of 101 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Evergreen is in fair condition as of its last assessment in September 2020. The dam has undergone modifications in 1980 to improve its structural integrity. With its moderate risk assessment level, the dam is closely regulated and inspected by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. As a popular recreational spot in the area, Evergreen is not only a vital water resource but also a scenic destination for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 Evergreen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 16 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 2 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 104 cfs | → |
| Chicago Creek Blw Devils Canyon Nr Idaho Sprgs Co | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Evergreen.
Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Fire Lookout On Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Indian Springs Campsites
- Idylease Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper Clear Creek
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Foxton
- Estabrook To Cliffdale
More reservoirs
Track Evergreen 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 Evergreen
Where does the data for Evergreen 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 High 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 Evergreen.