Georgetown
Georgetown is an earth dam located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Georgetown
The primary purpose of Georgetown 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 City Of Georgetown (brown, Kent) (local government). It impounds the South Clear Creek near Lawson.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 63 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 922 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 81 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/18/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Clear Creek |
| Nearest City | Lawson |
| River/Stream | South Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.73333, -105.68911 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 922 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 922 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 386 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 63 acres |
| Drainage Area | 81 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,557 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF GEORGETOWN (BROWN, KENT) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00195 |
| Federal ID | CO00195 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |