Cherry Creek Dam
Cherry Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cherry Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Cherry Creek Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Cherry Creek near Denver.
The dam stands 189 feet tall and stretches 14,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 852 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 134,470 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 385 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/24/2025.
At 189 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Arapahoe |
| Nearest City | Denver |
| River/Stream | Cherry Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.64948, -104.85828 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 189 ft |
| Dam Length | 14,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 134,470 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 134,470 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,960 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 852 acres |
| Drainage Area | 385 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01280 |
| Federal ID | CO01280 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |