Stillwater #1
Stillwater #1 is an earth dam located in Garfield County, Colorado, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Stillwater #1
The primary purpose of Stillwater #1 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bear River Reservoir Company (redmond, John) (private). It impounds the Bear River near Yampa.
The dam stands 89 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 129 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,410 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/04/2022.
At 89 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 | Garfield |
| Nearest City | Yampa |
| River/Stream | Bear River |
| Coordinates | 40.03001, -107.12057 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 89 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,410 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,410 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,088 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 129 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,120 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BEAR RIVER RESERVOIR COMPANY (REDMOND, JOHN) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01030 |
| Federal ID | CO01030 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |