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<br />CHERRY CREEK DAM AND RESERVOIR <br /> <br />The Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir, constructed by the Corps of <br /> <br />. <br />Engineers in 1953, is located on Cherry Creek approximately 11 miles <br /> <br />above its juncture with the South Platte River and about 6 miles <br /> <br />southeast of Denver. <br /> <br />The primary purpose of the project is to protect Denver from <br /> <br />floods that occur on Cherry Creek. The reservoir has aMply demon- <br /> <br />strated its flood control value several times since its construction. <br /> <br />In addition, the reservoir water surface and surrounding land area <br /> <br />provide a major recreation attraction in the Denver area. <br /> <br />When the Cherry Creek project was being planned by the Corps of <br /> <br />Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation was planning a large transmountain <br /> <br />diversion project which never materialized but which is now being <br /> <br />developed and is in fact partially constructed by the City of Denver. <br /> <br />During that planning, agreement was reached with the Corps of Engineers <br /> <br />for the provision of 95,000 acre-feet of conservation capacity, con- <br /> <br />sisting of 85,000 acre-feet for irrigation and 10,000 acre-feet for <br /> <br />sedimentation. Although that capacity has not been used to date it <br /> <br />constitutes a potentiality for future conservation use. <br /> <br />The Cherry Creek Reservoir originally had a flood control storage <br /> <br />capacity of 96,000 acre-feet. However, 15,000 acre-feet of that capacity <br /> <br />are currently being maintained as a recreation pool as a result of <br /> <br />popular demand and arrangements between the Corps and State agencies. <br /> <br />Thus, the present allocated flood control pool is 81,000 acre-feet <br /> <br />exclusive of the 85,000 acre-foot irrigation capacity and 10,000 acre- <br /> <br />feet for sediment. <br /> <br />111 <br />