Niver Creek Detention dam
Niver Creek Detention
Located in Thornton, Colorado, Niver Creek Detention is a crucial infrastructure designed by McCall-Ellingson & Morrill to reduce flood risks along the South Platte River. Completed in 1978, this earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and spans a length of 2200 feet, with a storage capacity of 948 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, this structure plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding areas from potential inundation during heavy rainfall events.
Maintained and regulated by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Niver Creek Detention has a high hazard potential due to its location and proximity to residential and commercial areas. Despite the high risk, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was deemed satisfactory. With a maximum discharge capacity of 17,450 cubic feet per second, the structure boasts uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates to manage excess water flow. The risk assessment for this facility is moderate, indicating the importance of continuous monitoring and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in flood mitigation.
As a critical piece of water resource infrastructure in Adams County, Colorado, Niver Creek Detention serves as a key component in the region's overall flood control strategy. With its strategic location along the South Platte River, this earth dam not only provides flood protection but also contributes to the sustainable management of water resources in the area. With regular inspections and maintenance, this structure continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the community from potential flooding events, showcasing the importance of proper water resource management and climate resilience measures.
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 Niver Creek Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 83 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 103 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Niver Creek Detention.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Brighton
- Adams County
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
Fishing spots
- Civic Center Park Lake (Thornton)
- Camenisch Park Pond
- Rotella Park Pond
- Lambertson Lake
- Croke Reservoir
- Clear Creek Pond
Track Niver Creek Detention 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 Niver Creek Detention
Where does the data for Niver Creek Detention 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 Niver Creek Detention.