Last Chance No. 1
Last Chance No. 1 is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, built in 1892. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Last Chance No. 1
The primary purpose of Last Chance No. 1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Alkire Investment Company (ralph Coleman) (private). It impounds the Big Dry Creek-os near Westminster.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Completed in 1892, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 01/17/1986. That was over 40 years ago.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Westminster |
| River/Stream | Big Dry Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 39.85500, -105.16307 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Max Discharge | 290 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | ALKIRE INVESTMENT COMPANY (RALPH COLEMAN) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/17/1986 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00233 |
| Federal ID | CO00233 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |