Horse Creek
Horse Creek is an earth dam located in Otero County, Colorado, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Horse Creek
The primary purpose of Horse Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fort Lyon Canal Co. (private). It impounds the Horse Creek-os near Las Animas.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 10,765 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,626 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,125 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 122 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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 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 05/13/2022.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Otero |
| Nearest City | Las Animas |
| River/Stream | Horse Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 38.19000, -103.40724 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,765 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 28,746 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,626 acres |
| Drainage Area | 122 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FORT LYON CANAL CO. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01046 |
| Federal ID | CO01046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |