Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek is an earth dam located in Washington County, Colorado, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Buffalo Creek
The primary purpose of Buffalo Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Holtorf Ranch (private). It impounds the Buffalo Creek near Sterling.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 528 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 237 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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.
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Location
| State | Colorado |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Sterling |
| River/Stream | Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.36334, -103.16390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 528 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 237 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 237 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 464 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HOLTORF RANCH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01400 |
| Federal ID | CO01400 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |