North Michigan Creek
North Michigan Creek is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Colorado, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About North Michigan Creek
The primary purpose of North Michigan Creek is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Colorado Parks And Wildlife (taylor, Margaret) (state). It impounds the Michigan River near Walden.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 402 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 102 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,869 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 12/03/2021.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Walden |
| River/Stream | Michigan River |
| Coordinates | 40.55335, -106.00866 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 402 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,869 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,869 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,267 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE (TAYLOR, MARGARET) |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO00999 |
| Federal ID | CO00999 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |