Tepper No. 1 dam
Tepper No. 1
Tepper No. 1 is a local government-owned earth dam located in Westminster, Colorado, along the Little Dry Creek-OS. Completed in 1912, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a height of 22 feet and a length of 960 feet. It has a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet and a spillway width of 52 feet, with a maximum discharge of 1236 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a risk level of 3 out of 5. The last inspection date was in July 1992, with an inspection frequency of every 6 years. The condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," and emergency action plans and risk management measures are not specified.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the history and infrastructure of dams in Colorado may find Tepper No. 1 to be an intriguing case study. With its unique design, purpose, and location, this dam offers valuable insights into the intersection of water management, recreational use, and risk assessment in the state.
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 Tepper No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Big Dry Creek At Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 5 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 83 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Denver | 103 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tepper No. 1.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
Campgrounds
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Chief Ouray Group Site
Fishing spots
Track Tepper No. 1 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 Tepper No. 1
Where does the data for Tepper No. 1 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 Tepper No. 1.