Chatfield Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir
Chatfield dam
Location	Douglas / Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States
Coordinates	39.547206°N 105.065002°W / 39.547206; -105.065002
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	South Platte River
Primary outflows	South Platte River
Catchment area	3,000 sq mi (7,800 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	1,500 acres (610 ha)
Max. depth	47 m

Chatfield Reservoir and dam on the South Platte River south of Littleton, Colorado were built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a response to the disastrous flood of 1965. In addition to its primary purpose of flood control, it serves as one of many water supply reservoirs for the city of Denver, Colorado. In 1966, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission projected a total federal cost of $74 million. Construction of the project was begun in 1967 and the dam was completed in 1975.

The massive breastworks of the dam measure approximately 13,136 feet (4,004 m) in length with a maximum height of the dam of 147 feet (45 m) above the streambed. The normal depth of the lake is 47 feet (14 m) at its deepest point. This means the dam towers 100 feet (30 m) above the mean surface of the reservoir.

The lake drains an area of more than 3,000 square miles (8,000 km²). The 1,500 acre (6 km²) lake has a conservation storage capacity of 27,000 acre⋅ft (0.033 km³) with a flood-control pool of over 350,000 acre⋅ft (0.43 km³)

The reservoir is surrounded by Chatfield State Park, a recreation area with boating, horseback riding and camping. A secondary inflow from the south is Plum Creek. A tertiary inflow from the west is Deer Creek.

There are 212 bird species that are frequently found at Chatfield Reservoir. These birds either permanently live there or just go there to rest after long migrations. There is a Chatfield bird watch list that anyone can access. The bald eagle, white pelican and burrowing owl have been seen.

External links

• Chatfield conditions and fishing reports