Platte Canyon
Platte Canyon is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Platte Canyon
The primary purpose of Platte Canyon 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 Denver Board Of Water Commissioners (public utility). It impounds the Little Willow Creek-os near Littleton.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 3,437 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,248 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 08/26/2020.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Littleton |
| River/Stream | Little Willow Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 39.49001, -105.09085 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,437 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,248 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,248 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 963 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | DENVER BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01814 |
| Federal ID | CO01814 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |