Platte Canyon dam
Platte Canyon
Platte Canyon, located in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a key water supply infrastructure managed by a public utility. Completed in 1904, this earth dam stands at 30 feet high and stretches 3437 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1248 acre-feet. Situated on the Little Willow Creek-OS river, this dam plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area, with a normal storage capacity of 963 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capability of 1470 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Platte Canyon's dam is in satisfactory condition, with a low hazard potential and a regular inspection schedule. The dam's risk assessment categorizes it as having a high risk level of 2, prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures. With its location in a picturesque canyon setting and its vital role in water resource management, Platte Canyon is an essential piece of infrastructure for ensuring water supply reliability in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Platte Canyon's history and operational details fascinating, showcasing the intersection of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship in managing water resources.
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 Platte Canyon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Waterton | 21 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek At Titan Rd Nr Louviers | 16 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Sedalia | 21 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At South Platte | 381 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek Blw C-470 At Highlands Ranch | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Platte Canyon.
Boat launches
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Platte Canyon Ditch
- Chatfield Reservoir
- Chatfield Lake
- Strortia Springs Reservoir
- Strontia Springs Reservoir
- Redstone Park Pond
Track Platte Canyon 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 Platte Canyon
Where does the data for Platte Canyon 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 Low 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 Platte Canyon.