Metzger dam
Metzger
Metzger is a local government-owned dam located in Westminster, Colorado, along the Big Dry Creek-TR river. Built in 1961, this earth dam stands at 17 feet high and stretches 575 feet in length, serving primarily for irrigation purposes. With a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, Metzger also supports fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond needs in the area. The dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition based on the last inspection in November 2019.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Metzger is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capability of 247 cubic feet per second. While it has not undergone any modifications in recent years, the risk assessment for Metzger is moderate, with a DSAC risk rating of 3. Emergency action plans and inundation maps for the dam are yet to be prepared, highlighting areas for improvement in risk management and emergency preparedness.
Overall, Metzger serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in Adams County, Colorado, contributing to the local agriculture and water supply needs. As climate change impacts continue to put pressure on water resources, ensuring the safety and efficiency of dams like Metzger becomes increasingly important for sustainable water management in the region. Collaborative efforts between state agencies, local governments, and stakeholders will be crucial in addressing potential risks and enhancing the resilience of water infrastructure 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 Metzger -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 5 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 83 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 185 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Metzger.
Boat launches
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Brighton
- Adams County
- Lagerman Trail Boulder County
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Camp Patiya
- St. Vrain State Park
- Boulder County Fairground
Fishing spots
- Community College Pond
- Tom Frost Reservoir
- Webster Lake
- Croke Reservoir
- Westminster City Park Pond
- Mckay Lake
Paddle runs
- Lower Boulder Canyon
- Golden Whitewater Park
- Tunnel 1 To Golden Whitewater Park
- Idledale To Morrison
- Upper South Boulder Creek
More reservoirs
Track Metzger 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 Metzger
Where does the data for Metzger 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 Metzger.