Kelly Road Detention is an earth dam located in Denver County, Colorado, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 3,300 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 Kelly Road Detention
The primary purpose of Kelly Road Detention 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 City of Aurora, Stormwater Division (earnest, Mike (local government). It impounds the Westerly Creek near Denver.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 3,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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 12/07/2021.
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 | Denver |
| Nearest City | Denver |
| River/Stream | Westerly Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.73168, -104.89057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 60,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Aurora, Stormwater Division (earnest, Mike |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02345 |
| Federal ID | CO02345 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |