Upper Mount Olivet dam
Upper Mount Olivet
Upper Mount Olivet, also known as Mount Olivet No. 1, is a privately owned dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, near the city of Wheatridge. Built in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a length of 2342 feet, serving primarily for irrigation purposes along the Clear Creek-TR river system. With a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as not assessed for its condition.
Despite its age, Upper Mount Olivet has undergone regular inspections by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, with the last inspection date recorded in May 1995. The dam's moderate risk assessment level (3) indicates a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The spillway of the dam is of the uncontrolled type, with a width of 45 feet, and the maximum discharge capacity is 220 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the infrastructure and management of dams will find Upper Mount Olivet an intriguing case study. Its historical significance, purpose for irrigation, and location within a regulated state jurisdiction provide valuable insights into the complexities of maintaining and assessing dams for both safety and functionality in a changing climate. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment level, Upper Mount Olivet serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with managing water resources in an environmentally sustainable manner.
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 Upper Mount Olivet -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek At Golden | 104 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 103 cfs | → |
| Cherry Creek At Denver | 41 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Mount Olivet.
Boat launches
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Rifleman Phillips Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Ward Road Pond
- Prospect Park Lakes (Wheatridge)
- Meadow Park Lake
- Birdland Lake (Jack B. Tomlinson Park)
- Crown Hill Lake
- Arvada Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper Clear Creek
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Upper Mount Olivet 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 Upper Mount Olivet
Where does the data for Upper Mount Olivet 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 Upper Mount Olivet.