Somerville-mccullah
Somerville-mccullah is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Somerville-mccullah
The primary purpose of Somerville-mccullah is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Grand Junction (local government). It impounds the Whitewater Cr near Grand Junction.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,040 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,364 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 07/28/2022.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Whitewater Cr |
| Coordinates | 39.04137, -108.21015 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,040 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,364 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,364 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 947 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01047 |
| Federal ID | CO01047 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |