North Lake
North Lake is an earth dam located in Las Animas County, Colorado, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About North Lake
The primary purpose of North Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Trinidad (valentine, Mike) (local government). It impounds the Coal Creek-tr near Vigil.
The dam stands 94 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 104 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 4,753 acre-feet. Completed in 1963, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/12/2022.
At 94 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Vigil |
| River/Stream | Coal Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 37.24001, -105.03890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 94 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,753 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,753 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,214 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Max Discharge | 65 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF TRINIDAD (VALENTINE, MIKE) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00544 |
| Federal ID | CO00544 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |