Chatfield Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir
Chatfield dam
Location	Douglas / Jefferson counties, Colorado, USA
Coordinates	39°32′50″N 105°03′54″W / 39.547206°N 105.065002°W / 39.547206; -105.065002Coordinates: 39°32′50″N 105°03′54″W / 39.547206°N 105.065002°W / 39.547206; -105.065002
Lake 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. 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 storage capacity of 27,000 acre feet (33,000,000 m³).

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.

External links

• Chatfield conditions and fishing reports