Barr Lake
Barr Lake is an earth dam located in Adams County, Colorado, built in 1893. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Barr Lake
The primary purpose of Barr Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Farmers Reservoir And Irrigation Company (edgar, S (private). It impounds the Beebe Draw near Hudson.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 7,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,830 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 47,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1893, 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 11/07/2022.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Adams |
| Nearest City | Hudson |
| River/Stream | Beebe Draw |
| Coordinates | 39.95412, -104.74622 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 47,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 47,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31,645 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,830 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,466 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | FARMERS RESERVOIR AND IRRIGATION COMPANY (EDGAR, S |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CO01888 |
| Federal ID | CO01888 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |