27Total Dams
3High Hazard
3Significant
Dam Safety in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County has 27 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 3 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 3 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 2 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.
The average dam in Rio Blanco County is 83 years old. The most common purpose is irrigation. The tallest dam is Big Beaver at 102 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in Colorado · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Beaver | High | Fair | 102 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | 1964 |
| Taylor Draw | High | Satisfactory | 81 | Hydroelectric | 1984 |
| Sheriff | High | Unsatisfactory | 72 | Irrigation | 1955 |
| Allen Basin | Significant | Fair | 58 | Irrigation | 1956 |
| D.d. & E. Wise | Significant | Fair | 41 | Irrigation | 1946 |
| Chapman | Significant | Satisfactory | 34 | Irrigation | 1940 |
| Poose Creek | Low | Not assessed | 41 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Love Ranch Evaporation Pond | Low | Not assessed | 40 | Other | 2006 |
| Beaver Lake | Low | Satisfactory | 37 | Recreation | 1962 |
| Lunney | Low | Fair | 35 | Irrigation | 1904 |
| Big Lick Irrigation | Low | Not assessed | 35 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1968 |
| Ball Lake | Low | Satisfactory | 33 | Recreation | 1980 |
| Wilson | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1970 |
| Cove | Low | Not assessed | 30 | Irrigation | 1918 |
| Cove Lake | Low | Not assessed | 28 | Irrigation | 1918 |
| Johnnie Johnson | Low | Unsatisfactory | 28 | Recreation | 1970 |
| Wyman | Low | Satisfactory | 27 | Irrigation | 1903 |
| Simon #1 | Low | Satisfactory | 27 | Irrigation | 1917 |
| Lake Gloria | Low | Satisfactory | 27 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | 1987 |
| Mark #1 | Low | Fair | 22 | Irrigation | 1964 |
| West Stewart | Low | Not assessed | 22 | Irrigation | 1895 |
| Larson | Low | Fair | 21 | Water Supply | 1888 |
| Mchatton | Low | Not assessed | 21 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1896 |
| Heart Lake | Low | Fair | 14 | Irrigation | 1892 |
| Theos Reservoir #1 | Low | Satisfactory | 14 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | 1973 |
| Gregor | Low | Satisfactory | 11 | Irrigation | 1911 |
| Bunker Lake | Low | Not assessed | 9 | Irrigation | 1913 |