South Platte Reservoir
South Platte Reservoir is an earth dam located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, built in 2007. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About South Platte Reservoir
The primary purpose of South Platte Reservoir 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 Centennial Water And Sanitation District (local government). It impounds the South Platte River-os near Littleton.
The dam stands 83 feet tall and stretches 7,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 152 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,435 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 2007, the structure is relatively new.
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 03/31/2022.
At 83 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Littleton |
| River/Stream | South Platte River-os |
| Coordinates | 39.57010, -105.04443 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 83 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 2007 (19 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,435 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,435 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,480 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,045 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CENTENNIAL WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02858 |
| Federal ID | CO02858 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |