Cottonwood #4
Cottonwood #4 is an earth dam located in Mesa County, Colorado, built in 1896. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cottonwood #4
The primary purpose of Cottonwood #4 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Cottonwood Res Company (currier, President, Carlyl (private). It impounds the Cottonwood Creek near Molina.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 288 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 541 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1896, the structure is over a century 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. 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 10/20/2021.
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 | Mesa |
| Nearest City | Molina |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.07501, -107.95223 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 288 ft |
| Year Completed | 1896 (130 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 541 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 541 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 372 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | COTTONWOOD RES COMPANY (CURRIER, PRESIDENT, CARLYL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01756 |
| Federal ID | CO01756 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |