Meadow Creek
Meadow Creek is an earth dam located in Grand County, Colorado, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Meadow Creek
The primary purpose of Meadow Creek 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 Englewood, Freeport Mcmoran, & Den Water (local government). It impounds the Meadow Creek near Tabernash.
The dam stands 126 feet tall and stretches 1,485 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,545 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 08/10/2022.
At 126 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 | Grand |
| Nearest City | Tabernash |
| River/Stream | Meadow Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.05222, -105.75223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 126 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,485 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,545 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,545 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,370 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,079 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, FREEPORT MCMORAN, & DEN WATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00713 |
| Federal ID | CO00713 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |