Morrison Raw Water dam
Morrison Raw Water
Morrison Raw Water, also known as Operations Reservoir, is a critical water resource managed by local government authorities in Jefferson County, Colorado. This dam, completed in 1982, serves primarily for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 29 acre-feet. Situated along Bear Creek, the dam stands at a height of 40 feet and spans 655 feet in length, with a spillway width of 52 feet.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2020, Morrison Raw Water plays a crucial role in ensuring water security for the surrounding area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway design allows for a maximum discharge of 2222 cubic feet per second in case of overflow, highlighting the importance of proper management and monitoring. Despite being state-regulated and inspected, the dam's risk assessment categorizes it as moderate (3), prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures to mitigate potential threats.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, Morrison Raw Water stands as a key asset for water supply in the region. Its strategic location in Morrison, Colorado, coupled with its structural integrity and storage capacity, underscores its vital role in safeguarding water security amidst evolving environmental challenges. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate, understanding and advocating for the sustainable management of dams like Morrison Raw Water is essential to ensure resilience and adaptability 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 Morrison Raw Water -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 18 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 5 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Golden | 110 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morrison Raw Water.
Boat launches
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Chatfield State Park
- Idylease Campground
- Fire Lookout On Mestaa’Ėhehe Mountain
Fishing spots
- Soda Lakes
- Harriman Lake
- Hine Lake
- Blue Heron Lake
- Cottonwood Park Lake (Kipling & Jewell)
- Smith Reservoir (Lakewood)
Track Morrison Raw Water 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 Morrison Raw Water
Where does the data for Morrison Raw Water 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 Morrison Raw Water.