Franktown Parker Fpe-4 dam
Franktown Parker Fpe-4
Located in Franktown, Colorado, the Franktown Parker Fpe-4 dam is a critical piece of infrastructure designed by the USDA NRCS to reduce flood risk along the East Cherry Creek. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 770 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 347 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the Franktown Parker Fpe-4 dam is considered to have a high risk level due to its location and the potential impact of a failure. The dam does not have a spillway but serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction in the area. With a maximum discharge capacity of 2525 cfs, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding communities from flooding events along the East Cherry Creek. Additionally, the dam is situated within the congressional district of Doug Lamborn (R), providing key representation for its maintenance and regulation at the federal level.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Franktown Parker Fpe-4 dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective flood risk reduction infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events. With its strategic location in El Paso County and the support of the local government and regulatory agencies, this dam plays a vital role in safeguarding the community and environment from potential flooding disasters. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, the Franktown Parker Fpe-4 dam serves as a model for resilient infrastructure that balances both safety and environmental conservation.
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 Franktown Parker Fpe-4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monument C Ab N.Gate Blvd At Usaf Academy | 25 cfs | → |
| Monument Creek At Palmer Lake | 1 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Abv Briargate Pkwy | 3 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Creek At Woodmen Rd Nr Colo Springs | 28 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood Ck At Union Blvd | 28 cfs | → |
| Monument Cr Abv Woodmen Rd At Colorado Springs | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Franktown Parker Fpe-4.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Deadmans Creek
- Monument Lake (El Paso County)
- Palmer Lake
- Upper Reservoir - Palmer Lake
- Pikeview Reservoir
- Nichols Reservoir
Track Franktown Parker Fpe-4 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 Franktown Parker Fpe-4
Where does the data for Franktown Parker Fpe-4 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 Franktown Parker Fpe-4.