ESTES PARK — Two long-term plans are being considered to deal with Lily Lake Dam in Rocky Mountain National Park, both of which are needed to head off potential flood dangers posed by the weakened dam.
Lily Lake Dam is rated a “high hazard” dam by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. While its failure is not imminent, it must be either repaired or removed, park officials say.
Meanwhile, the dam will be regularly inspected and monitored, and a pump has been purchased to lower the lake level in case of a significant rainfall or other weather event, said Kyle Patterson, spokeswoman for the park.
Lily Lake Dam is at the headwaters of Fish Creek, which flows into Lake Estes in Estes Park. The water is part of the Colorado Big Thompson Project, which feeds the water needs of several Colorado cities and communities, said Larry Gamble, the park’s chief of planning and compliance.
Fish Creek is about 5 miles in length, and the elevation difference between Lily Lake and Lake Estes is about 1,500 feet, say officials.
If the dam does fail, floodwaters could claim lives and property along Fish Creek, Patterson said.
Lily Lake, located along Colorado 7, also is a popular recreational area. It is accessible to nearby trails and provides plenty of fishing. The lake is stocked with greenback cutthroat trout, a federally listed threatened species.
Park staffers say they want the public to comment on two long-term alternatives for the dam. Repairing the dam could cost about $1.4 million, with additional annual costs for maintenance and monitoring.
Removing the dam would be about $150,000, and the resulting lake would be about 14 acres in surface area and would contain about 39 acre-feet of water. If the dam remains in place, the lake would be about 17 acres in surface area and contain about 75 acre-feet of water.
The National Park Service will seek public comment on the two alternatives — in writing — until the end of the business day Feb. 29.
No deadline has been set for a final decision on the dam, Gamble said. “We are a lot of ways off before we know what to do with the dam,” he said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
Want to comment?
The public can use the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment website:
. From this site, select the Lily Lake Dam Project.
Comments also can be submitted by:
