Pueblo Dam
Pueblo Dam is a buttress dam located in Pueblo County, Colorado, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Pueblo Dam
The primary purpose of Pueblo 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Arkansas River near Pueblo.
The dam stands 245 feet tall and stretches 10,230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,671 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 489,116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,613 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/10/2019.
At 245 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 | Pueblo |
| Nearest City | Pueblo |
| River/Stream | Arkansas River |
| Coordinates | 38.26860, -104.72530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 245 ft |
| Dam Height | 200 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 489,116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 489,116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 322,949 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,671 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,613 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 191,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/10/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00299 |
| Federal ID | CO00299 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |