Crawford Dam
Crawford Dam is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Crawford Dam
The primary purpose of Crawford Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Iron Creek near Crawford.
The dam stands 162 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 406 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23,970 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 74 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 06/16/2021.
At 162 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 | Delta |
| Nearest City | Crawford |
| River/Stream | Iron Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.68990, -107.60700 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 162 ft |
| Dam Height | 162 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23,970 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23,970 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,395 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 406 acres |
| Drainage Area | 74 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00556 |
| Federal ID | CO00556 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |