Spring Gulch Dam
Spring Gulch Dam is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Colorado, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Spring Gulch Dam
The primary purpose of Spring Gulch Dam 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 Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Spring Gulch near Denver.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 3,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,752 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/29/2023.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Denver |
| River/Stream | Spring Gulch |
| Coordinates | 39.54416, -105.03395 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,752 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,752 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01279 |
| Federal ID | CO01279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |