Summit - Main Dam
Summit - Main Dam is an earth dam located in Montezuma County, Colorado, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Summit - Main Dam
The primary purpose of Summit - Main Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Summit Reservoir & Irrigation Company (wagner, Lau (private). It impounds the Lost Canyon Creek-tr near Dolores.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 7,270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 402 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century 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 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 10/06/2022.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Montezuma |
| Nearest City | Dolores |
| River/Stream | Lost Canyon Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 37.42253, -108.38790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,954 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 402 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SUMMIT RESERVOIR & IRRIGATION COMPANY (WAGNER, LAU |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01091 |
| Federal ID | CO01091 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |