Fuchs
Fuchs is an earth dam located in Rio Grande County, Colorado, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fuchs
The primary purpose of Fuchs is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fuchs Ranches, Inc. (sprunger, Michael) (private). It impounds the E. Fork Pinos Creek near Del Norte.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 379 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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 09/02/2022.
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 | Rio Grande |
| Nearest City | Del Norte |
| River/Stream | E. Fork Pinos Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.47435, -106.51579 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 379 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 379 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 237 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 795 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FUCHS RANCHES, INC. (SPRUNGER, MICHAEL) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00770 |
| Federal ID | CO00770 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |