Silver Jack Dam
Silver Jack Dam is an earth dam located in Gunnison County, Colorado, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Silver Jack Dam
The primary purpose of Silver Jack 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 East Fork, Cimarron River near Delta.
The dam stands 173 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 319 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,363 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 07/17/2023.
At 173 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Gunnison |
| Nearest City | Delta |
| River/Stream | East Fork, Cimarron River |
| Coordinates | 38.23200, -107.54220 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 173 ft |
| Dam Height | 173 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,363 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,363 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,520 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 319 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,220 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01693 |
| Federal ID | CO01693 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |