Indian Creek
Indian Creek is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Indian Creek
The primary purpose of Indian Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by North Poudre Irr. Co. (moen, Tad) (private). It impounds the Indian Creek near Timnath.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 2,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 179 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,154 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/18/2022.
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 | Timnath |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.74644, -104.96039 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,154 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,154 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,697 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 179 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | NORTH POUDRE IRR. CO. (MOEN, TAD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00139 |
| Federal ID | CO00139 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |