A Clear Creek Town With a Long Flood Record
Golden sits about eight miles due west of our Wheat Ridge address, at the foothills edge where Clear Creek leaves its canyon. Federal flood records for Jefferson County note that several severe floods have been recorded in Golden since 1864. Dispatch picks up day or night, and Golden calls are sent out from the Wheat Ridge base.
The same records mention the 1888 Clear Creek flood, the July 1896 cloudbursts over Clear Creek Canyon and Golden Gate Canyon that flooded Clear Creek and Tucker Gulch, a second Tucker Gulch flood in 1948 and flash flooding in 1965. They also state that no flood protection measures exist upstream of Golden on any of the streams, and that Tucker Gulch was channelized to carry the 1 percent flood.
For a homeowner, the point is simple: Golden's water history is about speed. Mountain storms send water down quickly, and a basement near Clear Creek or Tucker Gulch can take on water quickly. Read our flood damage restoration page for how that water is handled.
Water coming in right now in Golden?
Call dispatch and tell us the street.
Seasonal Risks: Cloudbursts, Hail and Burn-Scar Runoff
Summer thunderstorms are the first risk. The 2017 hailstorm tracked from Golden toward Wheat Ridge according to NWS Boulder, which logged 1.75 inch hail in both places, and hail-damaged roofs often leak weeks later.
Wildfire adds another. The City of Golden says ash, sediment and debris can wash into Clear Creek during rain or snowmelt after a wildfire, and the city may reduce or stop its Clear Creek intake. That is mostly a water-quality issue for the city, but burned slopes also shed water faster, which is why the city is updating its wildfire protection plan.
Winter freezes are the quiet risk. The average first freeze at the Denver station falls on October 7, and a cracked line in an unheated garage or a mountain-side vacation home can run for days. Shut off the main valve at once and call dispatch.
Golden Utilities, Permits and Who to Call
The City of Golden provides both water and sewer service. Its Utilities Division staff are available 24/7 for water and sewer emergencies, and the water emergency line is 303-384-8158. Wastewater is processed at the Molson Coors treatment plant, and the city says its water comes from the Clear Creek watershed.
The Building Department is at 911 10th Street and answers at 303-384-8000. Addresses outside city limits go to the Jefferson County Building Safety Division, which matters in the foothills where Golden mailing addresses can sit outside city limits.
The city's affordable housing page notes that homes built before 1940 have the highest risk of lead or galvanized service lines, and it is inventorying pre-1940 homes. Older lines corrode from the inside, and a failed galvanized line is a common cause of a sudden leak in an older house.
Golden Landmarks and What They Mean for Water Calls
Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St
Rentals near campus often involve a landlord or property manager, so we coordinate with them before extraction.
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, 1201 10th St
Properties near the creek downtown should pay closest attention to storm warnings and basement drains.
Golden History Museum, 923 10th St
Older downtown buildings can contain older materials, so moisture mapping gets extra attention before anything is removed.
Lookout Mountain
Water moves downhill fast on the slopes, and homes there should watch for cloudburst runoff and frozen lines.
Fairmount is a census-designated place in Jefferson County, with a 2020 population of 9,324 and a center about four miles from Golden's. Fairmount calls go through the same dispatch line.
Before We Arrive: If Water Is Still Spreading
Shut off the main
Close the main water valve. In older Golden homes the valve may be stiff, so open and close it once a year.
Watch for power
If water is near outlets or the panel, stay out. For electrical or gas risk call 911 or the utility before calling us.
Protect what you can
Raise small furniture and papers, and move electronics out of the wet room.
Document
Photograph the water, then call your insurer to report the loss.
Golden on the Map
Costs and Insurance in Golden
Golden jobs are priced the same way as any other, on the readings found in the house, and the scope is explained before work begins. The City of Golden participates in the FEMA Community Rating System, which can reduce flood insurance premiums for residents. Homeowners policies usually exclude flood damage, so ask your insurer about separate coverage.
Golden Water Damage FAQs
Is emergency water removal available in Golden?
Yes. Golden calls are answered at any hour. Canyon-road traffic and weather affect drive time, so no arrival time is promised.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Golden?
We serve Golden ZIP codes 80401, the core city around downtown and Mines, and 80403, the foothills side of Golden. ZIP 80419 belongs to Jefferson County government offices and has no homes. Call with your street address if you are unsure.
Is Golden's water emergency line open all night?
The city says its Utilities Division staff are available 24/7 for water and sewer emergencies, and the water emergency line is 303-384-8158.
Do mountain-side homes outside the city need a different permit office?
Addresses outside Golden city limits go to the Jefferson County Building Safety Division, so ask which office covers your address.
Do you serve Wheat Ridge, Arvada and Denver from the same dispatch?
Yes. See Arvada and Denver for those towns, and water mitigation and water damage cleanup for the process.