Trinidad Dam
Trinidad Dam is an earth dam located in Las Animas County, Colorado, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Trinidad Dam
The primary purpose of Trinidad Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Albuquerque District (federal). It impounds the Purgatoire River near Trinidad.
The dam stands 203 feet tall and stretches 6,610 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,442 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 164,930 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 671 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/31/2022.
At 203 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Las Animas |
| Nearest City | Trinidad |
| River/Stream | Purgatoire River |
| Coordinates | 37.14286, -104.55161 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 203 ft |
| Dam Height | 203 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,610 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 164,930 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 164,930 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 71,779 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,442 acres |
| Drainage Area | 671 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 458,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Albuquerque District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00050 |
| Federal ID | CO00050 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |