Lookout Mountain dam
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain, also known as Beaver Brook #3, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Golden, Colorado. Completed in 1903, this dam primarily serves the purpose of water supply, with a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 101 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 60 feet, with a hydraulic height of 40 feet and a length of 460 feet, impounding Clear Creek-TR.
Despite its age, Lookout Mountain has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in May 2020. However, it is classified as having a high hazard potential, indicating the potential risk to downstream communities in the event of a failure. The dam is regularly inspected and maintained by the state regulatory agency, DWR, to ensure its safety and integrity. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lookout Mountain serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management and maintenance in safeguarding water resources and communities against potential risks.
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 Lookout Mountain -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek At Golden | 106 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 15 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 4 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Evergreen | 13 cfs | → |
| North Clear Creek Above Mouth Nr Blackhawk | 5 cfs | → |
| Coal Creek Near Plainview | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lookout Mountain.
Boat launches
- Ralston Creek Trail Arvada
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
Campgrounds
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Gennessee Ropes Camp Spot
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
- Rifleman Phillips Group Campground
Fishing spots
- Union Square Ponds
- Prospect Park Lakes (Wheatridge)
- Ward Road Pond
- Arvada Reservoir
- Main Reservoir
- Soda Lakes
Track Lookout Mountain 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 Lookout Mountain
Where does the data for Lookout Mountain 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 High 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 Lookout Mountain.