Celebration for the new dam
A few days before Cheesman Dam spilled for the first time on May 9, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt completed a hunting tour of the West with a banquet in Denver. David H. Moffat and Walter S. Cheesman, as well as many other dignitaries, were present for the occasion. Roosevelt was the father of the National Park System, and his interest in conservation and environmentalism shaped American attitudes toward the land and natural resources. Like Roosevelt, Walter Cheesman and his colleagues saw their roles not as exploiters of nature but as a builders and artists, creating an oasis on the High Plains.
With more than 100 years of hindsight, we might disagree with their definition of conservation and question some of their decisions. But like the well-intentioned caretakers who prevented fires, they did not have the benefit of contemporary wisdom. Looking at the dam, it is easy to see how it reflects this intention to shape rather than to conquer the environment.
The native granite construction of the dam blends visually with the surrounding canyon. The spillway design lets water cascade down the abutting cliff rather than over the face of the dam. From the right angle of vision, it looks like a natural cascading waterfall. Even the outlet had the look of a cave spilling underground water rather than a man-made pipe. When a new valve house was added in 1972 to cover and replace the cave-like opening, it was designed to blend seamlessly with the environment.
Utilitarian and beautiful
The amazing thing about the dam is that the aesthetic details also are utilitarian. By placing the spillway and outlet away from the dam's surface, chief engineer Harrison reduced the effects of erosion on the durability of the dam. Cheesman Dam is a monument to thoughtful, daring, successful engineering.
Even by modern standards, designing and building this dam in less than five years was a major technical achievement. Historians of the structure find technical characteristics (the quality of the cement mix, for example, carefully stipulated by the chief engineer) that would challenge contemporary contractors. In 1973, Cheesman Dam was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and in October to 2005 the society held a second ceremony to reaffirm the honor.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers:
“Cheesman Dam is... of such historical significance and contemporary importance that it should never be forgotten, but placed side by side with other national and historical landmarks of the engineering profession.”
Denver Water has recognized from the beginning that the reservoir must be protected from pollution, even though it is located high in the Rockies. That’s why, early on, Denver Water bought about 8,500 acres of the forest surrounding the reservoir before the forest could be changed even marginally by the impact of mining or range animals. The property was opened briefly for limited recreational use from 1980 until the 2002 Hayman Fire. Today it is closed to public use, and the dam not accessible. It sits like a hidden jewel deep in the national forest.
We honor the many people who created this jewel of the South Platte River, and we will continue a legacy of stewardship and foresight to continue providing a high-quality, reliable water supply well into the future.
