Marston Lake - West Dike dam
Marston Lake - West Dike
Marston Lake - West Dike is a vital water resource structure owned by a public utility in Jefferson County, Colorado. Completed in 1899, this earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a storage capacity of 21,100 acre-feet and a surface area of 652 acres, Marston Lake plays a crucial role in water management for the surrounding area.
Situated along the South Platte River, Marston Lake - West Dike has a low hazard potential and is not currently rated for its condition. Despite being inspected in 1996, the dam is still in operation and meets regulatory requirements for state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The spillway, with a width of 20 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 220 cubic feet per second. Overall, Marston Lake - West Dike presents a moderate risk level (3) and is an essential component of the region's water infrastructure.
As a key element in the water supply system for Denver, Marston Lake - West Dike plays a critical role in storing and managing water resources for the area. With its historical significance dating back over a century, this earth dam continues to provide essential services while meeting state regulations and safety standards. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and environmental considerations that go into maintaining structures like Marston Lake - West Dike for the benefit of the community and the ecosystem.
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 - West Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek At Mouth | 8 cfs | → |
| South Platte River Below Union Ave | 24 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Englewood | 32 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Above Bear Creek Lake Near Morrison | 5 cfs | → |
| Harvard Gulch At Harvard Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Morrison | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marston Lake - West Dike.
Boat launches
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
- Fisherman's Trail Lakewood
- Chatfield Lake North Boat Ramp
- C-470 Trail Lakewood
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Fairway Drive Evergreen
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 - West 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 - West Dike
Where does the data for Marston Lake - West 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 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 Marston Lake - West Dike.