Kendrick dam
Kendrick
Kendrick is a local government-owned dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, specifically in the city of Lakewood. Built in 1922, Kendrick serves primarily for irrigation purposes along the Sanderson Gulch-OS river or stream. With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2020, Kendrick's dam type is classified as Earth with a height of 22 feet and a length of 1050 feet.
The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 492 acre-feet and a normal storage of 242 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 39 acres. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 60 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1000 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Kendrick is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Kendrick to be a fascinating structure due to its historical significance, functional importance for irrigation, and the potential risks associated with its operation. The dam's location within a populated area underscores the critical need for proper maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety of downstream communities and the efficient use of water resources in the region. The data indicates that Kendrick plays a crucial role in water management in the area, highlighting the intricate balance between human infrastructure and natural ecosystems in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Kendrick -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 18 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 32 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 24 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kendrick.
Boat launches
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- 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
- Kendrick Reservoir
- East Reservoir
- Smith Reservoir (Lakewood)
- Cottonwood Park Lake (Kipling & Jewell)
- Main Reservoir
- Bear Creek Ponds
Track Kendrick 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 Kendrick
Where does the data for Kendrick 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 Significant 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 Kendrick.