Platoro Dike
Platoro Dike is a rockfill dam located in Conejos County, Colorado, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Platoro Dike
The primary purpose of Platoro Dike is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Conejos River near Platoro.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 67,790 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2021.
At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Conejos |
| Nearest City | Platoro |
| River/Stream | Conejos River |
| Coordinates | 37.35170, -106.54860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 590 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 67,790 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 67,790 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 53,506 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01671 |
| Federal ID | CO01671S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |