Rueter Hess dam
Rueter Hess
Rueter Hess, also known as Frank Jaeger, is a state-regulated dam located in Parker, Colorado. Completed in 2012, this earth dam stands at a height of 196 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a storage capacity of 85,176 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,119 acres, Rueter Hess plays a crucial role in water resource management for the region.
Managed by local government authorities, Rueter Hess has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in March 2020. The dam's spillway, with a width of 545 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for a maximum discharge of 25,227 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment level, Rueter Hess is regularly inspected and meets state regulatory standards for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring the safety and reliability of the water supply infrastructure.
Situated on the Newlin Gulch-OS stream in Douglas County, Rueter Hess not only provides essential water storage but also contributes to flood control and environmental conservation efforts. With its strategic location and impressive capacity, this dam stands as a vital asset in the management of water resources and climate resilience 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 Rueter Hess -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Plum Cr Blw Haskins Gulch Nr Castle Rock | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek Blw C-470 At Highlands Ranch | 1 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 19 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek Near Franktown | 3 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 7 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek Below Cherry Creek Lake | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rueter Hess.
Boat launches
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
Campgrounds
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
- Chatfield State Park
- Casey Jones Park
Fishing spots
- Salisbury Park
- Pinery Reservoir
- Bingham Lake-Pinery Reservoir
- Cherry Knolls Pond
- Quincy Reservoir
- Cherry Creek Reservoir
Track Rueter Hess 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 Rueter Hess
Where does the data for Rueter Hess 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 Rueter Hess.