Indian Wash Det.
Indian Wash Det. is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Indian Wash Det.
The primary purpose of Indian Wash Det. is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Mesa Soil Conservation District (public utility). It impounds the Indian Wash near Grand Junction.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,105 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,137 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/20/2021.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Mesa |
| Nearest City | Grand Junction |
| River/Stream | Indian Wash |
| Coordinates | 39.12862, -108.50751 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,105 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,137 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,137 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 570 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,110 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | MESA SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00960 |
| Federal ID | CO00960 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |