Lake Mary dam
Lake Mary
Lake Mary, located in Commerce City, Colorado, is a Federal-owned fish and wildlife pond that serves as a vital water resource in the area. Built in 1960, this Earth-type dam stands at 11 feet high and has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 60 acre-feet. The dam spans 620 feet in length and has a spillway width of 7 feet, ensuring controlled release of water.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Lake Mary is a crucial component of the local ecosystem and provides habitat for various wildlife species. Despite its age, the dam continues to be inspected every 6 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While it meets regulatory requirements for state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there is room for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness and risk management measures.
Overall, Lake Mary plays a significant role in water conservation and wildlife preservation in Adams County, Colorado. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and sustainable management of this reservoir will be essential for the long-term health of the surrounding environment.
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 Lake Mary -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| First Cr Ab 96th Ave | 1 cfs | → |
| First Cr Bel Buckley Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| Sand Crk Abv Burlington Ditch Nr Commerce City | 9 cfs | → |
| South Platte R At 64th Ave. Commerce City | 95 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At Henderson | 181 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Mary.
Boat launches
- West 69th Avenue 4700, Westminster
- Adams County
- Brighton
- Cherry Creek Park Road Centennial
- Standley Lake Trail Westminster
- West Quincy Avenue Denver
Campgrounds
- Cherokee Group Site
- Chief Ouray Group Site
- Arapahoe Group Site
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Standley Lake
- Tipi Village
Fishing spots
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal
- Engineers Lake
- Thornton Gravel Ponds #2 & #3
- Spratt-Platte Lake
- Clear Creek Pond
- Elaine T. Valente Open Space
Track Lake Mary 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 Lake Mary
Where does the data for Lake Mary 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 Lake Mary.