Rueter Hess
Rueter Hess is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Colorado, built in 2012. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rueter Hess
The primary purpose of Rueter Hess 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 Parker Water & Sanitation District (baylie, Jarod) (local government). It impounds the Newlin Gulch-os near Parker.
The dam stands 196 feet tall and stretches 7,675 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,119 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85,176 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 2012, the structure is relatively new.
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 06/30/2022.
At 196 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Parker |
| River/Stream | Newlin Gulch-os |
| Coordinates | 39.49442, -104.82091 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 196 ft |
| Dam Height | 196 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,675 ft |
| Year Completed | 2012 (14 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85,176 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85,176 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75,689 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,119 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,227 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PARKER WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT (BAYLIE, JAROD) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO02949 |
| Federal ID | CO02949 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |