Cherry Creek Dam was the first of the three dams to be built to lower the risks to the Denver region from catastrophic South Platte River floodwaters that plagued the area for more than 100 years. Located at the southeast edge of Denver in Aurora, Colo., construction of the dam began in 1948 and completed in 1950.
Cherry Creek Lake lies on Cherry Creek at its confluence with Cottonwood Creek, at the southeast edge of Denver. The lake is 3.25 miles long and has an average depth of 46 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 390 square miles. The 850-surface-acre lake has a storage capacity of 13,960 acre-feet.
The Cherry Creek Dam and reservoir are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cherry Creek Lake is cooperatively managed by the Corps and its partners: Colorado State Parks and the cities of Denver, Greenwood Village, and Aurora. Cherry Creek State Park is a year-round facility and is part of the Colorado State Park system. Its attractions include a campground, fishing and picnic areas, riding stable, archery and rifle range, nature and bike trails, marina, and a swimming area. Winter activities include ice fishing, skating, and cross-country skiing.