Franktown Parker Fpp-1 is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Colorado, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 821 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Franktown Parker Fpp-1
The primary purpose of Franktown Parker Fpp-1 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 Douglas County (local government). It impounds the Baldwin Gulch near Denver.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 821 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 102 acre-feet. Completed in 1963, 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 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 09/15/2022.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Denver |
| River/Stream | Baldwin Gulch |
| Coordinates | 39.52333, -104.75112 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 821 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 102 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 102 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Max Discharge | 2,474 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Douglas County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00287 |
| Federal ID | CO00287 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |