West Jefferson dam
West Jefferson
West Jefferson, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a vital water supply dam on the North Turkey Creek-TR river system. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and was completed in 1982. With a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet and a normal storage of 21 acre-feet, West Jefferson plays a critical role in ensuring water availability in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, West Jefferson is categorized as having a high risk due to its location and impact in case of failure. The dam has no spillway and is inspected every six years to ensure its structural integrity. With a maximum discharge capacity of 962 cubic feet per second, West Jefferson serves as a crucial infrastructure for water management in the area. Its presence highlights the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges.
As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, understanding the significance of West Jefferson in the broader context of water supply and infrastructure development is crucial. With its role in water supply and management, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of effective regulation, inspection, and risk management measures to safeguard our water resources in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 West Jefferson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 15 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 4 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At South Platte | 542 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Waterton | 35 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Jefferson.
Boat launches
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Idylease Campground
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Meridian Campground
- Meridian
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Chatfield State Park
Fishing spots
- Pine Valley Ranch Pond
- Hine Lake
- Soda Lakes
- Blue Heron Lake
- Platte Canyon Ditch
- Strontia Springs Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Foxton
- Estabrook To Cliffdale
- Idledale To Morrison
- Cliffdale To Confluence With South Platte
- Wigman Club To Strontia Reservoir
- Bailey Canyon
More reservoirs
Track West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson
Where does the data for West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson.