Black Hollow
Black Hollow is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1918. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Black Hollow
The primary purpose of Black Hollow is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Water Supply & Storage Co. (frick, Donald) (private). It impounds the Black Hollow Creek near Severance.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 371 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1918, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/29/2022.
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 | Weld |
| Nearest City | Severance |
| River/Stream | Black Hollow Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.61115, -104.87069 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,058 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 371 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 38,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WATER SUPPLY & STORAGE CO. (FRICK, DONALD) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01157 |
| Federal ID | CO01157 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |