Horse Creek
Horse Creek is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Horse Creek
The primary purpose of Horse Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Henrylyn Irrigation District (private). It impounds the Horse Creek near Kuner.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 4,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 712 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 29,739 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/22/2022.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Colorado dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Weld |
| Nearest City | Kuner |
| River/Stream | Horse Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.00792, -104.57649 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29,739 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29,739 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,537 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 712 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 49,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HENRYLYN IRRIGATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00012 |
| Federal ID | CO00012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |