Impacts to The Tropics

In the fall of 2001, the north abutment of Soldier Canyon Dam, popularly known as "the Tropics," was blasted to clear overhang. Like the other three dams at Horsetooth Reservoir, Soldier Canyon will have its downstream face stripped and then rebuilt with a filter and stability berm. Had the Tropics not been blasted, the heavy equipment used in the work would have shaken boulders lose posing a hazard to site workers.

When the downstream face is rebuilt with a filter, a stability berm to further protect the dam against seismic movement, will be placed along the "toe" or base of the dam. The berm will cover a significant portion of what was once the Tropics. The photo with the blue, triangular line, indicates how much of the north abutment will be covered."