Dillon Reservoir - Security Issues

Security Issues

In 2008, residents of surrounding areas found Dillon Dam Road closed on numerous occasions for security reasons.

In January 2008, the Summit County Sheriff Dept. found two men videotaping a music video on the dam road, already closed at the time for weather purposes. As is protocol for possible threats involving dams, the FBI were asked to investigate the situation as well. The men were cleared of any suspicious activity though the dam remained closed for a short time afterward.

On July 8 of the same year, Denver Water closed the dam road indefinitely to all vehicular traffic excluding emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, inciting a lawsuit against the utility company by Summit County representatives. Despite having spent $10 million on increasing security measures for the dam since September 11, the utility felt the dam was still at risk of possible threats, especially to the town of Silverthorne, which lies north, and directly beneath, the dam.

The dam road was re-opened on July 25, but with strict stipulations imposed by Denver Water, including weight restrictions on vehicles, officers in security vehicles being placed on either end of the dam at any time during the day, and closing the road from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Emergency vehicles requiring the use of the road during the closed hours must lower the steel barricades on both ends to get through.

In 2011, the Dillon Dam Road was closed completely for several weeks while security was revamped with new guard shacks on either end of the structure, improved lighting and roundabouts. With the completion of the project in October, the road was reopened 24 hours a day with guards stationed on either end around the clock.