Marston Lake - Northwest Dike dam
Marston Lake - Northwest Dike
Marston Lake - Northwest Dike in Denver, Colorado, is a key water supply infrastructure managed by a public utility agency. This Earth dam, completed in 1899, stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 21,100 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, drawing water from the South Platte River-OS to provide for the region's needs.
With a surface area of 652 acres and a drainage area of 1 square mile, Marston Lake plays a significant role in water resource management in the area. The dam has a spillway width of 20 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 220 cubic feet per second. Despite being assessed as in fair condition, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, underscoring the importance of regular inspections and risk management measures.
Maintaining the dam's integrity is crucial to safeguarding the surrounding community against potential risks. The dam has been regulated by the state and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment taking place in September 2020. With its historical significance and ongoing importance for water supply, Marston Lake - Northwest Dike stands as a key asset in Colorado's water resource infrastructure.
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 Marston Lake - Northwest Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 30 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 54 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 113 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marston Lake - Northwest Dike.
Boat launches
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Park
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Cherokee Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
Fishing spots
Track Marston Lake - Northwest Dike 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 Marston Lake - Northwest Dike
Where does the data for Marston Lake - Northwest Dike 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 Marston Lake - Northwest Dike.