Upper Tule Lake is an earth dam located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, built in 1892. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall and 330 ft long. 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 Upper Tule Lake
The primary purpose of Upper Tule Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Patrick Bennett Reservoir Company (wilday, Jay) (private). It impounds the S Platte R-tr near Littleton.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 204 acre-feet. Completed in 1892, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 03/23/2022.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Arapahoe |
| Nearest City | Littleton |
| River/Stream | S Platte R-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.61380, -105.04731 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 204 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 204 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 92 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Max Discharge | 2,302 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Patrick Bennett Reservoir Company (wilday, Jay) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01816 |
| Federal ID | CO01816 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |