Upper Beaver Brook
Upper Beaver Brook is an earth dam located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Beaver Brook
The primary purpose of Upper Beaver Brook is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Lookout Mountain Water District (snyder, Dean) (local government). It impounds the Beaver Brook near Golden.
The dam stands 97 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 587 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/19/2022.
At 97 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Clear Creek |
| Nearest City | Golden |
| River/Stream | Beaver Brook |
| Coordinates | 39.69400, -105.43170 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 97 ft |
| Dam Height | 88 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 587 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 587 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 397 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,239 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN WATER DISTRICT (SNYDER, DEAN) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00188 |
| Federal ID | CO00188 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |