Harman Patil (Editor)

Chatfield Reservoir

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Type
  
reservoir

Primary outflows
  
South Platte River

Surface area
  
1,500 acres (610 ha)

Area
  
6.07 km²

Catchment area
  
7,770 km²

Inflow source
  
South Platte River

Primary inflows
  
South Platte River

Basin countries
  
United States

Max. depth
  
47 m (154 ft)

Surface elevation
  
1,655 m

Outflow location
  
South Platte River


Chatfield reservoir colorado with nate zelinsky


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.

Contents

Map of Chatfield Lake, Colorado, USA

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.

Chatfield reservoir fishing tool


References

Chatfield Reservoir Wikipedia