Little Thompson
Little Thompson is an earth dam located in Weld County, Colorado, built in 1896. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Little Thompson
The primary purpose of Little Thompson is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by The Extension Irrigation Company (chris Thompson) (private). It impounds the Little Thompson River-os near Milliken.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 767 acre-feet. Completed in 1896, 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 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 12/07/2020.
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 | Milliken |
| River/Stream | Little Thompson River-os |
| Coordinates | 40.32367, -104.88806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1896 (130 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 767 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 767 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 158 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Max Discharge | 618 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | THE EXTENSION IRRIGATION COMPANY (CHRIS THOMPSON) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01191 |
| Federal ID | CO01191 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |