Mc Lellan
Mc Lellan is an earth dam located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mc Lellan
The primary purpose of Mc Lellan 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 Englewood (dave Chapman) (local government). It impounds the Dad Clark Gulch near Littleton.
The dam stands 125 feet tall and stretches 1,940 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 217 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 04/20/2022.
At 125 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Dad Clark Gulch |
| Coordinates | 39.57084, -105.02278 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Height | 111 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 217 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF ENGLEWOOD (DAVE CHAPMAN) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01153 |
| Federal ID | CO01153 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |