FLOOD06560

• County: Denver
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: River Hydrology, Brown Ditch Weirs
• Date: 5/19/1986
• Prepared By: Wright Water Engineers, Inc.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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Memorandum to Mr. Ioannides
April 28, 1986
Page 6

GATES DAM

Check dam at Gates Rubber Company near Santa Fe Avenue bridge.
physical Characteristics:
Approximate 3 foot drop.

The dam is constructed of sheet piling driven across the river and
small (1'-2') riprap placed on a 2:1 slope on the downstream face.

A boat chute is located near the right bank. The chute is constructed
with a concrete cap on the sheet piling, a slope (12:1) grouted rock
chute 15'-20' wide and very large (4'-5') rocks grouted in at the edges
and downstream of the chute.

Analysis

1.

Naviaability. The chute is easy to locate from a boat upstream of
the rop due to two large signal rocks on each side of the
entrance. Warning signs have also been installed.

The chute is easily navigable by all levels of boaters and many
levels of river flow. It has "standing" waves, no "keeper" waves.
Large eddies are located downstream of the drop.

2.

Rescue Co:atibili ty. Rescue
pool at t e base of the drop,
crete wall on the right bank.

is made easier by the large,
but access is hampered by the

slow
con-

3. Cost and Ease of Construction. Relatively easy. Concrete cap on
sheet pile would not be needed if concrete wall was used as op-
posed to sheet piles.

4.

~pearance. Due to the large granite boulders along the chute and
t e whitewater standing waves, the chute is reasonably attractive,
given its location between two 4-lane highways.

5.

C?Peration and Maintenance. The chute is wide enough so no debris
1S collected within the chute.

6. Stability. The grouted chute is stable. The small (ungrouted)
riprap on the remainder of the dam is being eroded.

Other

Fish migration is easy.

No portage trails, landings are installed.
This chute has been observed at high water levels and functions well.