Lake Hope
Lake Hope is a rockfill dam located in San Miguel County, Colorado, built in 1910. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Hope
The primary purpose of Lake Hope is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Public Service Company Of Colorado (public utility). It impounds the Lake Fork near Sawpit.
The dam stands 130 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/13/2022.
At 130 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | San Miguel |
| Nearest City | Sawpit |
| River/Stream | Lake Fork |
| Coordinates | 37.78651, -107.84925 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Public Service Company of Colorado |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00866 |
| Federal ID | CO00866 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |