Westerly Creek
Westerly Creek is an earth dam located in Denver County, Colorado, built in 1991. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Westerly Creek
The primary purpose of Westerly Creek 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 Urban Drainage & Flood Control District (thomas, S (public utility). It impounds the Westerly Creek near Denver.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 9,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 256 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 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. 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 12/07/2021.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Denver |
| Nearest City | Denver |
| River/Stream | Westerly Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.71668, -104.88390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,150 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 256 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | URBAN DRAINAGE & FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT (THOMAS, S |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02708 |
| Federal ID | CO02708 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |