Quaintance dam
Quaintance
Quaintance is a privately owned dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Lakewood. Built in 1984, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of recreation, offering a surface area of 13 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 270 acre-feet. With a height of 44 feet and a hydraulic height of 58 feet, Quaintance provides a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Quaintance poses a high risk (2) due to various factors that may impact its functionality. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement ensuring its safe operation. The dam does not have a spillway, but in the event of an emergency, it is crucial to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place to mitigate any potential risks.
Located on Bear Creek-TR, Quaintance is a vital infrastructure for the surrounding community, offering recreational opportunities while also facing the challenges associated with managing water resources and climate impacts. As water enthusiasts explore this picturesque area, it is essential to stay informed about the dam's condition and adhere to safety guidelines to ensure the preservation of this valuable resource for future generations.
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 Quaintance -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 6 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 16 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 16 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 16 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 30 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Quaintance.
Boat launches
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
Fishing spots
- Cottonwood Park Lake (Kipling & Jewell)
- Smith Reservoir (Lakewood)
- Kendrick Reservoir
- Main Reservoir
- East Reservoir
- Harriman Lake
Track Quaintance 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 Quaintance
Where does the data for Quaintance 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 Quaintance.