Fruitgrowers Dam
Fruitgrowers Dam is an earth dam located in Delta County, Colorado, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fruitgrowers Dam
The primary purpose of Fruitgrowers Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Alfalfa Run Creek near Austin.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 640 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,548 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/11/2020.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Delta |
| Nearest City | Austin |
| River/Stream | Alfalfa Run Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.82670, -107.95480 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,548 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,548 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,540 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 640 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/11/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01683 |
| Federal ID | CO01683 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |