Comanche
Comanche is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Comanche
The primary purpose of Comanche is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Greeley Dept. Of Water Resources (gustafso (local government). It impounds the Beaver Creek near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 112 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,240 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 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. 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 08/03/2022.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.58476, -105.64478 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,240 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,240 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,629 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 112 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,179 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF GREELEY DEPT. OF WATER RESOURCES (GUSTAFSO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00130 |
| Federal ID | CO00130 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |