Marston Lake - South Dam dam
Marston Lake - South Dam
Marston Lake - South Dam, located in Denver, Colorado, is a vital structure for water supply purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1899, stands at a height of 33 feet and spans a length of 3351 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 21,100 acre-feet and a normal storage of 19,795 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The reservoir created by the dam covers a surface area of 652 acres and is fed by the South Platte River.
Despite its age, Marston Lake - South Dam remains in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose. Regular inspections ensure the dam's structural integrity and safety, as it is regulated and permitted by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. In the event of an emergency, the dam has an established Emergency Action Plan, although details about its preparedness and adherence to guidelines are not provided in the available data. Overall, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with measures in place to manage potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities and water resources.
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 Marston Lake - South Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 18 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 34 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 65 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 4 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Colorado Blvd. | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marston Lake - South Dam.
Boat launches
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
Campgrounds
- Chatfield State Park
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Cherry Creek State Park
Fishing spots
Track Marston Lake - South Dam 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 Marston Lake - South Dam
Where does the data for Marston Lake - South Dam 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 Marston Lake - South Dam.