Dunes dam
Dunes
Located in Brighton, Colorado, the Dunes dam is a critical piece of infrastructure designed by TETRA TECH/MULLER ENGINEERING for water supply purposes. Completed in 2012, this earth dam stands at a height of 62 feet and has a structural height of 67 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 5,644 acre-feet. With a surface area of 130 acres and a spillway width of 20 feet, the Dunes dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, the Dunes dam is state-regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses moderate risk (rated 3) and has an emergency action plan in place. The South Platte River-OS serves as the primary source of water for the dam, highlighting the importance of this structure in maintaining water supply for the surrounding area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the Dunes dam stands as a key asset in water management for Adams County, Colorado. With its strategic location and design, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating risks and ensuring a reliable water supply for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to stay informed about the condition and management of dams like Dunes to safeguard our water security for the future.
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 Dunes -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Henderson | 181 cfs | → |
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 9 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 95 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dunes.
Boat launches
- Brighton
- Adams County
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Cherokee Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Cherry Creek State Park
Fishing spots
- Adams County Fairground Lakes
- Elaine T. Valente Open Space
- Spratt-Platte Lake
- Marshall Reservoir
- Grandview Ponds
- Thornton Rec Ctr Lake (Carpenter)
Track Dunes 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 Dunes
Where does the data for Dunes 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 Dunes.