Jefferson Lake
Jefferson Lake is an earth dam located in Park County, Colorado, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Jefferson Lake
The primary purpose of Jefferson Lake 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 Aurora (local government). It impounds the Jefferson Creek near Jefferson.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 126 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,417 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 07/26/2022.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Park |
| Nearest City | Jefferson |
| River/Stream | Jefferson Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.45056, -105.86251 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,417 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,417 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,560 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 126 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,231 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF AURORA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00363 |
| Federal ID | CO00363 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |