Rio Grande
Rio Grande is an earth dam located in Hinsdale County, Colorado, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rio Grande
The primary purpose of Rio Grande is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by San Luis Valley Irrigation District (robert Philli (local government). It impounds the Rio Grande River near South Fork.
The dam stands 117 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,080 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 73,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 168 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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 08/30/2022.
At 117 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 | Hinsdale |
| Nearest City | South Fork |
| River/Stream | Rio Grande River |
| Coordinates | 37.72083, -107.26697 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 117 ft |
| Dam Height | 111 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 73,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 73,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54,082 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,080 acres |
| Drainage Area | 168 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,140 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SAN LUIS VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT (ROBERT PHILLI |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00805 |
| Federal ID | CO00805 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |