Projects by Discipline / Water Resources Engineering

Silver Spruce Ranch No. 1 Dam Rehabilitation

Hydrosphere inspected Silver Spruce Ranch No. 1 Dam and made recommendations for its rehabilitation. Silver Spruce Ranch is a private operating ranch with three reservoirs. The largest reservoir is managed for a quality cold-water fishing experience for members and guests. The ranch is located off the Peak to Peak Highway in north central Colorado at approximately 8600 feet in elevation.

Silver Spruce No. 1 Dam is an earthfill, off channel, non-jurisdictional dam located on a tributary of the South Saint Vrain River. It holds a reservoir that is primarily used for swimming. A seepage problem and a broken outlet valve initiated action by the owner to rehabilitate the dam.

An inspection of the dam under conditions of the reservoir being drained confirmed a foundation interface seepage problem, a primary outlet valve on the pressurized outlet pipe that was non-functional due to a broken leaf, and a deteriorated overflow spillway pipe. Hydrosphere developed a report presenting the results of the inspection and a description of five rehabilitation options to correct the deficiencies identified by the inspection and those previously identified by the Colorado State Engineer. Design of a new upstream primary outlet gate and ancillary features is currently underway.