Richards
Richards is an earth dam located in Larimer County, Colorado, built in 1904. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Richards
The primary purpose of Richards is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Water Supply & Storage Co. (frick, Donald) (private). It impounds the Cache La Poudre River-os near Fort Collins.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 2,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 68 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 950 acre-feet. Completed in 1904, 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 06/17/2022.
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 | Larimer |
| Nearest City | Fort Collins |
| River/Stream | Cache La Poudre River-os |
| Coordinates | 40.62872, -105.05497 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 950 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 950 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 515 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Max Discharge | 70 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WATER SUPPLY & STORAGE CO. (FRICK, DONALD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00845 |
| Federal ID | CO00845 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |