Platte Canyon is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 3,437 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Platte Canyon
The primary purpose of Platte Canyon 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 Denver Board of Water Commissioners (public utility). It impounds the Little Willow Creek-os near Littleton.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 3,437 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,248 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1904, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 08/26/2020.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Littleton |
| River/Stream | Little Willow Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 39.49001, -105.09085 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,437 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,248 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,248 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 963 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Denver Board of Water Commissioners |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01814 |
| Federal ID | CO01814 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |